2009-2010 SEASON PREVIEW
New Faces, New Coach Begin A New Era of NCCU Basketball
First-Year Head Coach LeVelle Moton Ushers in NCCU's third Division I Squad
The 2009-2010 version of North Carolina
Central University's men's basketball team
will see a lot of new faces, but a familiar
one has taken over as the program moves
into it's third season at the Division I level.
LeVelle Moton was named Head Coach
on March 25, 2009 and has immediately
made his mark on the program. He is the
program's third all-time leading scorer and
is the only player in school history to be
named CIAA Player of the Year. He led the
Eagles to the “Elite Eight” during his playing
career, one that garnered Hall of Fame
recognition. Since being named to head
coach, he has energized a basketball crazy
fan base. One thing Moton has preached
to the Eagle nation is patience, because he
knows full well that the road to the top will
see its challenges, especially during this
transition to Division I, and being his first
season at the helm.
“I just take it as a blessing each day that I
wake up. I embrace it, relish the opportunity.
I look forward to the challenge ahead. It's
pretty much been parallel and symbolic to my
life as a whole,” stated Moton. “I'm looking
at it as a unique challenge that's ahead,
and I'm just trying to embark on some new
things. It's been a learning experience thus
far, nothing I didn't expect, and nothing I will
complain about. Right now my main focus
is branding this basketball program, getting
it out in the community and try to gets some
fans in the seats to support this program.”
The youthful Eagles boast just one
senior, Joshua Worthy (Lewisville, TX), the
lone player left from when NCCU's Division
II days and still competing in the Central
Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
Four juniors (Michael Glasker, Vincent
Davis, Lamar Pittman, and Raphael
McDonald), one sophomore (Nick Chasten),
and one freshman (Dami Sapara) round out
the returners for NCCU. Vincent Davis is
the leading returning scorer after dropping
in 11.2 points per contest in his first season,
while Michael Glasker led the team with 80
assists and looks to do much of the same in
his third season in maroon and gray.
Those seven along with Moton's first
recruiting class will join together in this third
Division I edition of NCCU basketball.
“I know it's sounds cliché, but to get better
each day is our mantra coming into this
season," said Moton. "We're not trying to
make any bold projections, we're just trying
to have a first class organization with a blue
collar work ethic day-to-day in what we do.

2

When you do that everything else
takes care of itself, and if we do
that, we'll be successful where we
need to be on and off the floor.”
Instant Recruiting Success
Moments after being named
head coach at NCCU, Moton was
on the recruiting trail trying to get
the pieces to a future championship
puzzle.
Six players made up
Moton's first class starting with local
products C.J. Wilkerson (Oxford,
N.C.), Landon Clement (University
of North Carolina at Greensboro
transfer/Raleigh, N.C.), and Dijon
Manns (Raleigh, N.C.) signed to
attend NCCU and don the maroon
and gray uniforms of the Eagles.
T.J. Granger (Richmond, Va.)
Dwayne Sims (Dayton, OH), and
Ryan Fleming (Alpharetta, Ga)
rounded out the final three signees
in the recruiting class.
Wilkerson, a 6-3 205 pound
guard, played at J.F. Webb High
School in Oxford, N.C. where he
was named All-Conference in the
Mid-State 3-A three times, along
with Player of the Year honors
his senior season. He was also Joshua Worthy is the lone senior on the 2009-10
named the “District Player of the squad, and will be looked upon for leadership.
Year” by the Henderson Daily
and we couldn’t be happier to have him
Dispatch.
Wilkerson led the
Warriors to the playoffs three years in a row, here at NCCU.”
and averaged 18.7 points per contest his The second student-athlete played
senior year including 26.7 points per outing under Moton during his AAU coaching days
in the playoffs. He spent the last two years and also at Sanderson High School for
at both Clinton Junior College in Rock Hill, three years earning all-conference his last
S.C. and Southeastern Iowa Community two seasons. Clement, a 6-2 180 pound
College in West Burlington, Iowa. In his first shooting guard, left SHS second in allyear at SICC he started 29 of 31 games as a time scoring along with finishing his high
freshman for the Blackhawks. After moving school career number one in career three
closer to home to Clinton Junior College, he pointers made and free throw percentage.
got the nod in all 33 games for the Golden Clement took his game to the University
Bears and earned First Team All-Region of North Carolina at Greensboro, playing
10 honors after pouring in 14.0 points, 4.0 two seasons there under Head Coach
Mike Dement.
He contributed almost
rebounds, and 2.0 assists per outing.
"One of the most important signees at immediately playing in 27 of the 31 contests
NCCU,” said Moton. “He is very versatile, his freshman season.
can play and defend all three guard positions His sophomore campaign began strong
on the floor. Super athletic and will make after getting the nod in the first three games.
an immediate impact on the Division I level. Clement poured in 13 points in the season
He was very impressive during the Greater opener at Charlotte, going three-for-six from
Pro Am Summer League last year, holding three-point range, and exploding for a gamehis own against NBA, and ACC stars. C.J. is high 26 points against Webber International,
a great kid from a strong family background hitting a season-high five treys in UNCG’s
www.NCCUEaglePride.com

2009-2010 SEASON PREVIEW
first win of the season. Clement showed
flashes of his shooting ability throughout
the season with 15 points in a home loss
to The Citadel, and 17 points against NCAA
Tournament participant Chattanooga. In
that contest on January 22, he went threefor-nine from the perimeter for the Spartans.
When asked about bringing Clement in to
NCCU, Moton compared him to former Duke
standout J.J. Redick.
“I have had the fortune of coaching this
young man since he was 12 years old so
obviously, there is a lot of emotion involved
here”, said Moton. “I have said this from day
one, he is the best shooter that I have ever
coached and we welcome that ability here at
NCCU.”
Per NCAA Transfer rules, Clement will
have to sit-out the 2009-10 season.
The third signee to the 2009 class, Dijon
Manns, a 6-8, 230-pound power forward
from down the road in Knightdale, N.C., was
one of just three players in Knightdale High
School’s short history to play all four years of
varsity basketball under Head Coach Battle
Watkins. In his senior campaign, Manns
scored in double figures 11 times, including
a season-high 20 points in an 87-48 win
over Southeast Raleigh High School. He
also put up a double-double against Athens
Drive in the conference tournament with 14
points and 12 rebounds in the win.
Manns was named to the Greater Neuse
River All-Conference team in the 2007-08
season and was a key contributor of 73 wins

C.J. Wilkerson headlines six signees that
look to contribute immediately in 09-10.
(Photo by Ashley Ayscue)

during his time at KHS. Manns was also a
vital member of both a regular season and
tournament championship in the Greater
Nuese River Conference while piling up
614 points and grabbing 250 boards in four
seasons.
“Dijon is a very skilled big man,” said
Moton. "He reminds me of Sean May with
his hands, feet, and ability to shoot the ball
and also post. He comes from a winning
program at Knightdale High and we were
able keep an eye on him throughout the
season because he was a local kid.
"His parents (Teresa and Al) have done a
tremendous job of instilling their core values
which makes him an exceptional kid,"
Moton said of Manns. "I look forward to him
contributing to our program immediately.”
Terrance “T.J.” Granger, the fourth signee
of the 2009 class, transfers from Allegany
College of Maryland in Cumberland, Md.,
where the 6-9, 270-pound center played
a crucial role for the Trojans, who finished
the 2008-2009 season 29-7 overall and
14-2 in the Maryland Junior College Athletic
Conference under Head Coach Mike
Baker.
Granger averaged 9.4 points per game
and was third on the team with 5.4 rebounds
a game. He was also second on the squad
shooting 56.2 percent from the field.
He stepped up his game in the
postseason for the Trojans as he was
named to the Region XX All-Tournament
team after putting up a double-double with
16 points and 15 rebounds. That all-star
performance helped vault the program to
its 20th Region XX Division I tournament
championship, which qualified Allegany
for the NJCAA National Tournament in
Hutchinson, Kansas. In the first game of
the District 3 National Tournament, Granger
was one of three Allegany players in doublefigures putting up 12 points in a 70-66 win
over Monroe.
He is originally from Richmond, Va.,
where he starred at Thomas Jefferson
High School before moving on to ACM,
the same institution that former University
of Maryland star, Steve Francis, attended.
Numerous reports had Granger being
sought after by many mid-major programs
before expressing his desire to wear the
maroon and gray.
“We obviously wanted to address our
interior needs and Terrance provides us with
that,” said Moton. “He is a skilled player with
good hands, feet, and touch that will give us
an immediate inside presence to compete
at the highest level. When you think of
Terrance, not only do you think of a skilled
big man, but you think of a high-character
www.NCCUEaglePride.com

T.J. Granger brings much needed size
to the 2009-2010 Eagle roster.
kid with a strong family background. We are
fortunate that this kid has chosen to become
an Eagle."
The fifth signee for NCCU transfers in
with teammate C.J. Wilkerson, who both
came from Clinton Junior College in Rock
Hill, S.C. Dwayne Sims, a 6-6, 180-pound
forward originally from Dayton, Ohio,
averaged 10.0 points per game and 6.8
rebounds per outing in his second season
with the Golden Bears. Sims also recorded
six double-doubles during his second
season at CJC and tickled the twine to the
tune of 33 percent from the perimeter.
In his freshman season at the college, he
poured in 11.0 points a game and grabbed
5.6 boards a contest for Head Coach
Donald Payton’s squad. The Buckeye
State product was a teammate of University
of Dayton star Chris Wright at TrotwoodMadison High School and Moton feels his
game fits perfectly to the style of play he will
implement here at NCCU.
“Dwayne's ability to shoot the basketball
will extend the floor for us offensively,” said
Moton“He is able to play three positions
on the floor because of his length and
toughness and we certainly welcome those
abilities into our program.”
The sixth and final recruit in Moton's class
is Fleming, a 5-11, 160-pound guard from
Centennial High School in Alpharetta, Ga.
Fleming was the point guard for one of the
top teams in the Peach State. Leading the

3

Knights to no. 1 ranking in the 5-A Coaches
Poll. CHS finished 25-5 during his senior
season, as he was named Team Defensive
Player of the Year, while earning All-County
and Co-MVP honors in his junior season.
Centennial won the GlaxoSmithKline
Holiday Classic Championship while also
taking first place and the Prep All-Stars
Classic Championship. Was a high school
teammate of N.C. State recruit Lorenzo
Brown.
16,846 is the Magic Number
The first schedule under new head coach
LeVelle Moton sees 15 contests inside
state lines, and trips to eight different states
(Florida, Colorado, Iowa, New York, Texas,
Virginia, Georgia, Ohio) in the Eagles third
season at the Division I level.
NCCU is set to travel approximately
16,846 miles to complete its basketball
schedule. The Eagles will take on opponents
from 14 different conferences, including
four Atlantic Coast Conference opponents
and two from the Big Ten Conference.
The 2009-2010 season starts off with a Nov.
11, 9:00 p.m. tipoff against the defending
national champion North Carolina Tarheels.
That contest marks the beginning of the
2009 2KSports Classic benefitting Coaches
vs. Cancer.
Three days later, NCCU will head down
south and take on the University of Miami
for the second year in a row down in Coral
Gables, Fla. Last season, the Eagles trailed
Miami by 2 points with 17 minutes to play
only to fall 76-42 in the contest on Jan. 3,
2009. The home opener for NCCU comes
the following Wednesday on Nov. 18 when
the Eagles welcome the Battling Bishops
from North Carolina Wesleyan College into
McLendon-McDougald Gym. These two
teams met up on Nov. 27, 1995 with the
Eagles victorious in the contest 93-69.
On Nov. 20, NCCU ventures back down
to the sunshine state to finish competition in
the 2KSports Classic with a Friday evening
tilt with Florida International University at
US Century Bank Arena in Miami, Fla. FIU
is coached by NBA Hall-of-Famer Isiah
Thomas, was introduced as head coach
last spring. This will be NCCU and FIU's
first meeting.
After a day off on Saturday, NCCU gets
back to action taking on perennial NCAA
Tournament participant Murray State on
Sunday night at 6:00 on Nov. 22. The
Racers have made 13 appearances in
“The Big Dance” and are coming off their
22nd straight winning season. The Eagles
will end tournament play with an afternoon

4

is against Indiana University at legendary
Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind. on Dec.
19. With a 8:30 tipoff set for the game,
the Eagles will make its third appearance
on the Big Ten Network, its second of the
2009-2010 season.
“The trip out to the midwest to Indiana
will serve as an homage to Chancellor
Nelms,” said NCCU head coach LeVelle
Moton. “This is going to be a big trip for our
university and program.”
NCCU Chancellor Charlie Nelms served
as Vice President of Insitutional
Development and Student Affairs at
Indiana University prior to becoming
Chancellor at NCCU in August of
2007.
The Eagles will head 117 miles
northeast to Muncie, Ind to take on
Ball State University from the MidAmerican Conference for the final
game before the semester break.
That contest is scheduled for a 7:00
p.m. start inside Worthen Arena.
After the eight-day break, the
Eagles will stay inside the borders
of the Tar Heel state for two straight
games with road affairs at High
Point University and East Carolina
University. High Point owns a 2-0
series advantage after beating NCCU
in its home opener 73-64 last season.
The Panthers will host the Eagles at
the Mills Center for the final game in
2009 on Dec. 29, and the first game
of a home-and-home series between
the two. NCCU will ring in the New
Year with a Sunday afternoon contest
on Jan. 3 at 3:00 p.m. against ECU
Michalel Glasker will look to improve upon his
at Minges Colisuem. East Carolina
2008-2009 where he started four out of the last
also owns a 2-0 series lead with the last
five contests.
meeting coming on Jan. 5, 2008.
NCCU will head up north on Jan. 6, 2010
on the Big Ten Network last season when it
when NCCU collides with Colgate University
took on the University of Michigan.
Following that battle of the birds, the for the third straight season. Colgate
Eagles head further out west to Colorado upended NCCU last season in Durham 68Springs, Colo. to battle the Air Force 58, and defeated the Eagles in its first meeting
Academy for a 7:00 p.m. (MT) tip on 77-69 on Feb. 23, 2008. This marks the
second contest in Hamilton, N.Y. at Cottrel
Wednesday Dec. 2.
The Eagles will then fly back to the nest Court, where tipoff is slated for 7:00 p.m.
for two straight contests at home, starting NCCU heads to the Lonestar state for a
with a “Legends Weekend” affair against Jan. 9, contest against SMU in Dallas, TX.
Carver Bible College at 7:00 p.m. on Dec. The Mustangs are coached by former Tar
5. After an 11-day layoff due to exams, the Heel great, Matt Doherty.
Eagles face Florida Gulf Coast University in The Eagles return back to the Old North
a rematch from last season where FGCU State for a three-game homestand from
held on to beat NCCU 66-58 in Fort Myers, Jan. 11-16. NCCU has a return game with
Fla. That game tips off at 7:00 p.m. on Dec. High Point University on Jan. 11 to wrap
up the home-and-home with the Panthers.
16 from McLendon-McDougald Gym.
Three days after that two-game NCCU will take on two first time opponents
homestand, NCCU heads to the Hoosier inside the friendly-confines of McLendonstate for a pair of contests, the first of which McDougald Gym, while hosting the 2010

affair on Monday, Nov. 23 against Colonial
Athletic Association member James
Madison University. Tipoff is set for 4:00
p.m.
After a five-day layoff, NCCU heads to
the midwest to take on its first of two Big Ten
opponents of the season as the University
of Iowa Hawkeyes welcome the Eagles into
Carver-Hawkeye Arena for a 12:35 p.m.
(CST) tipoff on Saturday, Nov. 28. This
will be the first of two appearances for the
Eagles on the Big Ten Network. NCCU was

www.NCCUEaglePride.com

the first of a home-and-home
2009-10 NCCU EAGLES SCHEDULE
with the Tigers of Savannah
State University. SSU swept
Nov. 11 at North Carolina*(ESPNU) .....9:00 P.M.
the Eagles in two matchups
Nov. 14 at Miami....................................4:00 P.M.
last season, moving the
Nov. 18 vs. NC Wesleyan.................... 8:00 P.M.
series record to 4-3 in favor
2KSports Classic (Nov. 20-23)
of NCCU. Tipoff from Tiger
Nov. 20 at FIU*......................................6:00 P.M.
Arena is set for 7:00 p.m. on
Nov. 22 vs. Murray State*......................6:00 P.M.
Wednesday Jan. 20.
Nov. 23 at James Madison*...................4:00 P.M.
The final two contests in that
Nov. 28 at University of Iowa @............4:30 P.M.
Dec. 2
at Air Force ..............................9:00 P.M.
nearly two-week span takes
Dec. 5
vs. Carver Bible College #.... 7:00 P.M.
place at Youngstown State
Dec. 16 vs. Florida Gulf Coast .......... 7:00 P.M.
University on Jan. 27 at 7:00
Dec. 19 at Indiana@ .............................8:30 P.M.
p.m. and another Saturday
Dec. 21 at Ball State..............................7:00 P.M.
afternoon affair against N.C.
Dec. 29 at High Point.............................7:00 P.M.
State.
The Penguins of
Jan. 3
at East Carolina........................3:00 P.M.
Youngstown State from the
Jan. 6
at Colgate.................................7:00 P.M.
Missouri Valley Conference
Jan. 9
at S.M.U...................................2:00 P.M.
mark the third straight year
Jan.
11
vs. High Point........................ 7:00 P.M.
that NCCU will make the
B.C. Powder Classic (Jan 15-16)
trek to the Buckeye state for
Jan. 15 vs. Tennessee Temple &........ 8:00 P.M.
a basketball contest. The
Jan. 16 vs. The Apprentice School&.8:00 P.M.
Jan. 30 matchup against N.C.
Jan. 18 at Virginia Tech.........................8:00 P.M.
State marks the schools' third
Jan. 20 at Savannah State....................7:00 P.M.
Nick Chasten will be counted upon greatly in his
straight meeting since NCCU
second season at NCCU.
Jan. 27 at Youngstown State.................7:00 P.M.
made the transition to Division I. N.C.
Jan. 30 at N.C. State............................2:00 P.M.
B.C. Powder Classic. The Eagles battle State leads the series 2-0.
Feb. 2
vs. Western Illinois................ 7:00 P.M.
Tennessee Temple University on Friday The final stretch of the 2009-2010
Feb. 6
vs. Savannah State................ 7:00 P.M.
Jan. 15 at 8:00 p.m. following the Chowan season will see the Eagles inside the
Feb. 10 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore. 7:00 P.M.
University/ The Apprentice School contest nest for five of the final six games.
Feb. 13 vs. Longwood........................ 7:00 P.M.
at 5:30 p.m. The following evening, NCCU Coming to McLendon-McDougald
Feb. 15 vs. Coastal Carolina.............. 7:00 P.M.
goes toe-to-toe with The Apprentice Gym for the first time the Fighting
Feb. 25 at Longwood...........................7:00 P.M.
School for a Saturday night affair, starting Leathernecks of Western Illinois
immediately after the Chowan/Tennessee University from the Summit League
Home games played at McLendon-McDougald Gym
Temple matchup.
start off the Eagles final home
16 road games (2 neutral sites), 11 home games
After the conclusion of NCCU's stretch stretch with a Tuesday night game
of three games at home, the Eagles hit the scheduled for a 7:00 tipoff on Feb.
road for four straight games over a 12-day 2. The next four contests are a Saturday Eagles will honor the lone upperclassman
span that includes two ACC teams. January night rematch with Savannah State on Feb. on the squad, Joshua Worthy.
18 sees NCCU head to the Commonwealth 6, a Wednesday night affair with soon-to- NCCU ends the 2009-2010 season
of Virginia to test their mettle against head be conference foe Maryland Eastern Shore with a return matchup against Longwood
coach Seth Greenberg and his Virginia on Feb. 10, the first of two contests against in Farmville to conclude its third Division I
Tech Hokies. That Monday night contest is Longwood on Saturday Feb. 14, and a first schedule.
set for an 8:00 tipoff.
ever basketball matchup between NCCU “Although we decreased the states that
Two days later, the Eagles make the and Coastal Carolina University on Monday we are going to, the challenge of the teams
348 mile jaunt down to Savannah, Ga. for Feb. 15 will also be “Senior Night” where the that we play are still intact,” said Moton.
“Overall its a nice challenging, vigorous
schedule and we definitely look forward to
Inside the Numbers:
it.”
All in all, the pieces are in place for NCCU
16,846- Miles that the Eagles will travel in the 2009-2010 basketball season
to start building its basketball program
to the same level it saw back in the late
14- NCCU will take on teams from 14 different NCAA Division I conferences:
80's when NCCU won the NCAA Division
(ACC, Sun Belt, Ohio Valley Conference, Colonial Athletic Association, Big Ten,
II National Championship in 1989. With
Atlantic Sun, Mid-American Conference, Big South, Mountain West Conference Conference
Hall-of-Famer LeVelle Moton at the helm
USA, Patriot League, The Horizon League, The Summit, MEAC)
and the changes being made at NCCU.
That's a recipe for success that Eagle
Fans will be proud of.
8- States that NCCU will visit (Florida, Colorado, Iowa, New York, Texas, Virginia, Georgia,
and Ohio)

www.NCCUEaglePride.com

5

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dfi\k_Xe`kjfnei\nXi[%
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Which is precisely where the new Blue Points program
SM

comes in from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North
Carolina. Getting exercise, taking a vision test, eating right
— earning points has never been easier. And now
members can redeem those points for brand-name
merchandise, gift cards and charitable donations. Find out
1

NCCU JOINS MID-EASTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., September
10, 2009 - The Mid-Eastern Athletic
Conference (MEAC) announced that
North Carolina Central University will
join the conference as its 13th member,
as voted on by the conference's Council of Chief Executive Officers (CCEOs),
effective July 1, 2010.
A press conference is set for noon on
Sept. 10 at the McLendon-McDougald
Gymnasium on the campus of NCCU in
Durham, N.C.
"I am elated to have such an outstanding academic institution as North Carolina Central to return to the Mid-Eastern
Athletic Conference," said MEAC Commissioner Dennis E. Thomas. "I would
like to commend Chancellor Nelms, Dr.
Wicker-McCree, and the entire NCCU
family for all their continued hard work
as they make the transition from Division II to Division I."
Commissioner Thomas added, "The
addition of NCCU keeps us in compliance with our long range strategic plan
of adding up to 14 members. NCCU is
a perfect fit for the MEAC."

Director of Athletics, Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree address the crowd during the press conference announcing that NCCU had been accepted into the MEAC. (Photos by Robert Lawson)

"We now have a home!"
NCCU is in the third year of its reclassification from NCAA Division II to
Division I.
NCCU is one of seven founding
member institutions of the MEAC. The
Eagles withdrew from the conference
in 1979, opting to remain a Division II
member when the conference reclassified to Division I. From 1979-2007,
NCCU competed in the Central
Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).
"This is a significant milestone
in North Carolina Central University's transition to Division I," said
NCCU Chancellor Charlie Nelms.
"Membership in the Mid-Eastern
Athletic Conference is a win-win
proposition for our student-athletes, alumni and fans -- indeed,
all our university constituents."

"This is wonderful news for
North Carolina Central University, but most importantly for our
student-athletes, coaches and
fans," said NCCU Director of
Athletics, Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree. "The Mid-Eastern Athletic
Conference is a fantastic conference with highly competitive academic and athletic institutions.
For NCCU to return to the MEAC
and be part of its rich history is a
tremendous step for our athletics
program. We now have a place
to call home."
www.NCCUEaglePride.com

-Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCreeNCCU Director of Athletics
The addition of NCCU marks the
second expansion for the MEAC since
2007, when Winston-Salem State became the 12th member of the conference. Prior to Winston-Salem State,
the MEAC expanded in the 90's with
the inclusion of Norfolk State in 1997
and Hampton in 1995. NCCU becomes
the third MEAC institution located in the
state of North Carolina and the fourth
in the Carolinas, joining WSSU, North
Carolina A&T State (Greensboro), and
South Carolina State (Orangeburg).
About the (MEAC):
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, a NCAA Division I Conference,
is in its 40th year of operation heading
into the 2009-10 academic school year.
The MEAC is made up of 12 outstanding, historically black institutions across
the Atlantic coastline: Bethune-Cookman University, Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Florida
A&M University, Hampton University,
Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North
Carolina A&T State University, South
Carolina State University, and WinstonSalem State University.

Head Coach
First Season at NCCU
Record at NCCU: 0-0 (1st year)
Career Record: 0-0 (1st year)

The LeVelle Moton File
Date of Birth:
June 16, 1974

Hometown:
Boston, Massachusetts

Family:
Wife, Bridget;
Daughter, Brooke

Education:
Bachelor of Science,
NCCU, 1996
Head Coaching Experience:
Sanderson High School (20042007)

Assistant Coaching Experience:
NCCU, (2007-2009)

10

On March 25, 2009, arguably one of
the greatest players in school history
was elevated from Assistant Coach to
the position of Head Coach, becoming
the 17th to be named in that spot in the
program's history.
The school announced his hiring at
a press conference where Director of
Athletics, Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree
displayed her confidence in giving Moton
his first head coaching position.
"First of all, LeVelle is a wonderful
person," said Wicker-McCree.
"He's a players coach that understands
the importance of discipline in a program,
along with being a very charismatic
person which are all aspects of a coach
that this university needs."
With NCCU continuing the Division
I transition process, Moton knows full
well the challenges that lie ahead for this
program. By looking at the success of
his playing career where, he racked up
On March 25, 2009, LeVelle Moton became
an 80-28 record which inlcluded three
the program's 17th Head Coach
20-wins seasons, Eagle fans are hoping
his previous success translates to more
The Hall-of-Famer joined the NCCU
marks in the win column.
staff after serving as head boys
"We're not going to be oblivious
basketball coach at Sanderson High
to the fact that
we're still in the "This is a huge hire for North Carolina Central.
trenches, and I am anxious to see how big that program bewe have a uphill comes under his direction. He will undoubtedly
climb in front of give North Carolina Central a program of which
us." said Moton. it can be truly proud."
"However,
-Mike KrzyzewskiConfucius once
said that he who
believes he can and he who believes he
School in his hometown of Raleigh, N.C.
can't are both usually right."
During his three-year tenure (2004-07)
He initially returned to his alma mater
at Sanderson, Moton led the Spartans
as assistant men's basketball coach in
to an overall record of 59-25, while
July 2007.
winning back-to-back Cap-7 tournament
www.NCCUEaglePride.com

HEAD COACH - LeVELLE MOTON
in field goals made (569 of 1,159), 10th in
scoring average (16.6 points per game),
and 11th in steals (110).
As a junior (1994-95), he topped
the CIAA and was No. 16 in the NCAA
Division II in scoring with an average
of 23.5 points per game. His 87 made
three-point field goals that year remains
the school's single-season record.
As a senior (1995" LeVelle is a rising star in the coaching
96), he placed second
ranks. His knowledge of the game will allow in the CIAA with 21.3
points per game and
him to excel for years to come."
ranked among the
- Roy Williamsconference's top 10
statistical leaders in
assists, free throw percentage and
Moton was voted All-CIAA First Team, 3-point field goal percentage.
NCAA Division II South Atlantic AllMoton played on three CIAA Southern
Region First Team and NCAA Division Division Championship teams and made
II All-America Honorable Mention. He two trips to the NCAA playoffs, including
was named the 1996 CIAA (Central an NCAA Division II South Atlantic
Intercollegiate Athletic Association) Regional Championship title in 1993.
Men's Basketball Player of the Year and
After NCCU, Moton played four
was inducted into the NCCU Athletic Hall years of professional basketball in
of Fame in 2004.
Indonesia (1996-97) and Israel (1998Among NCCU's all-time career 99). Throughout his professional playing
leaders, Moton ranks first in 3-point field career, Moton averaged 25.0 points per
goals made (213 of 529), third in scoring contest, and dished out a little more than
(1,714 points), fourth in free throws made five assists per game as a pro.
(363 of 467), fifth in assists (278), eighth
He was head coach at West Millbrook
championships in 2006 and 2007.
A 1996 graduate of NCCU with
a bachelor's degree in recreation
administration, Moton became the
school's third all-time leading scorer with
1,714 points during his historic hardwood
career as an Eagle from 1992-96, earning
the nickname "Poetry `n Moton."
During his junior and senior seasons,

www.NCCUEaglePride.com

Middle School for three seasons (200104) before taking over the Sanderson
boys basketball program in 2004.
Moton is a 1992 graduate of Enloe
High School in Raleigh, N.C., where he
was named Cap5 Player of the Year as
a senior.
Moton and his wife, Bridget, married on
June 28, 2008. The couple celebrated
the birth of their first child, Brooke, on
March 12, 2009, just 13 days prior to
being named Head Coach.

11

HEAD COACH- LeVELLE MOTON
LeVelle Moton: The Player
Career Highlights
- Played on three CIAA Southern Division
Championships Teams
- Career Record as a player (80-28)
- NCCU's No.3 All-Time Leading Scorer with 1,714
career points
- Ranked in the Top 10 in school history in scoring
average (10th- 16.6 ppg), assists (6th- 278),
Field Goals (8th- 569), 3-PT Field Goals (1st213), 3-PT FG% (2nd- 40.3%) Free Throw %
(1st- 77.7%), and Free Throws (4th, 363)

Thirty-two years after breaking into the
coaching profession, Ray Martin enters his third
season on the NCCU coaching staff.
A 1977 graduate of the University of Notre
Dame, Martin boasts a wealth of basketball
coaching experience at the Division I and II
levels.
His first coaching job was as the head
freshman coach at Harvard University during
the 1977-78 campaign.
Martin then spent eight seasons as
an assistant coach at North Carolina State
University under head coach Jim Valvano.
During his tenure at N.C. State from 1980-88,
the Wolfpack won two ACC Championships
(1983, 1987) and made six trips to the NCAA
Tournament, including a National Championship
title in 1983.
Following N.C. State, Martin held
assistant coaching positions at Southern
Methodist University (1988-89), the University
of Tennessee (1989-93), Shaw University
(1994-95, 2002-03, 2004-05), Florida Atlantic
University (1995-96), Miami (Ohio) University
(1996-98), Fordham University (2003-04), and
South Carolina State University (2006-07).
Martin spent three seasons as head
basketball coach at Long Island University
from 1998-2001.
He also served as an assistant coach to
John Thompson during the 1988 U.S. Olympic
Best High School Basketball Player
in New York City in 1973.
"Ray brings a wealth of knowledge and Martin went on to play four years
experience to out program that cannot of basketball at Notre Dame under
be replaced, and serves as an added
head coach Digger Phelps, starting
at point guard and earning the honor
dimension for us."
of team captain as a senior for the
- Head Coach LeVelle MotonFighting Irish. He was a college
teammate of NBA standout Adrian
Trials in Colorado Springs.
Dantley and a member of the Notre Dame team
Martin has recruited and coached more
that ended UCLA's 88-game winning streak on
than 10 NBA professional athletes, including
Jan. 19, 1974.
Allan Houston, Spud Webb, Sidney Lowe,
Martin graduated from Notre Dame in 1977
Wally Szczerbiack, Nate McMillian, Vinny Del
with a bachelor's degree in economics.
Negro, Thurl Bailey and Tom Gugliotta.
Martin and his wife Valerie have four children
Born and raised in Long Island City,
- Nina, Alexis, Ashley and Anthony - and two
Queens, N.Y., Martin was an All-American on
grandchildren, Bryce Gregory Johnson and Samaya
the hardwood at Mater Christi High School
Nicole.
(now St. John's Preparatory High School) in
Astoria, Queens, N.Y., and was voted as the
www.NCCUEaglePride.com

ASSISTANT HEAD COACH-RAY MARTIN
"Ray Martin was one of the smartest and
best defensive players I ever had."
-Digger Phelps- Tales from the Notre
Dame Hardwood

Ray Martin (Pictured above and below) played four seasons for the
Fighting Irish. Martin was a vital member of the team that ended
UCLA's 88-game winning streak.

On July 16, 2009 Robert Brickey was
added as the final piece to Moton's fulltime coaching staff. Known as Coach K’s
Original High Flyer from his basketball
playing days at Duke University, Brickey
played under Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s
guidance at Duke from 1986-1990.
Brickey's previous stop came just
two-and-a-half miles down the road with
the Duke women’s program after a threeyear stint as the Head Men’s Basketball
Coach at Shaw University (2005-08). It was
there he served as the Assistant Director
of Basketball Operations. He coordinated
off-campus clinics, on-campus recruiting
and assisted the coaches in day-to-day
operations. Brickey’s prior collegiate
coaching experience was as an assistant
coach at James Madison University, in
Harrisburg, Virginia (2004-05), Southern
Methodist University in Dallas, Texas
(2002-04), and the United States Military
Academy at West Point (2000-02). This
marked the second stint as a Duke staff
member, as he was the Community
Outreach Coordinator with the Blue Devils
in 1999-2000 prior to getting an opportunity
to break into college coaching.
A consensus Top 50 national
basketball recruit from Fayetteville, North
Carolina, Brickey was the North Carolina's
“Mr. Basketball” and High School Player
of the Year in 1986. During his illustrious

(Photo courtesy Duke University Athletics)

Bulls. All of these accolades were accomplished
by putting his team first and leading them to
conference championships in all three of his
varsity years. Brickey also lead E.E. Smith to
the State Championship Game and State SemiFinals in his Junior and Senior years garnering
him a spot on several High School
"Everything he does and everything he All American lists.
stands for is parallel to what I was look- Brickey was a three-year starter
ing for in an assistant coach."
for the Blue devils and accumulated
109 wins in his four year career
-LeVelle Motonincluding the 1988 ACC Tournament
Championship. As a senior at Duke,
high school career, Brickey was named Brickey was Captain of Coach Krzyzewski’s 3rd
First Team All-State, a three-time All consecutive NCAA Final Four team that went on to
Conference performer, All-City, All-County, played in the 1990 NCAA National Championship
All-Eastern North Carolina, two-time State game. He earned the nickname of “King Dunk”
Playoff East Regional MVP, Team MVP around the Atlantic Coast Conference and he
and Captain of the E.E. Smith Golden was featured on the cover of an ACC basketball
www.NCCUEaglePride.com

ASSISTANT COACH -ROBERT BRICKEY

(Photo courtesy Duke University Athletics)

season preview with that moniker
entering his senior year. He finished
his Duke career with 1,299 points and
649 rebounds, and left the program as
one of its best all-time career field-goal
percentage leaders at 55.0 percent. He
graduated with Bachelor of Arts Degree
in Political Science from Duke University.
Known for his athleticism and high wire
rim rocking dunks, Brickey soared during
his college years.
One of Brickey’s most cherished
honors was being selected by USA
Basketball to play on the under 19
National Team. He and his teammates
represented his country on the world
stage and won Silver at the Junior World
Championships in 1987. He finished his
career at Duke as one of the most beloved
players to don the Blue Devil uniform
and is still talked about with reverence.
He followed his basketball accolades by
receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in
political science from Duke University.
Although Brickey had a stellar career
at Duke, a lingering knee injury that he
first battled through during his senior
year in college cut short his NBA dreams.
Brickey’s professional playing career did
however include a stint in the CBA and
a brief stint with the Global Basketball
Association’s Fayetteville Flyers in the
early 1990s.

Brickey, has one daughter, Kristina, she is
17-years-old. He was born on December
26, 1967 in Fayetteville, N.C.
(Photo courtesy Duke University Athletics)

"North Carolina Central's transition into Division I will be
hastened by Robert's experience at that level. This is a great
opportunity for Robert and a tremendous addition to their
staff."
-Mike Krzyzewski- Head Coach- Duke University

(Photo courtesy Duke University Athletics)
www.NCCUEaglePride.com

17

2009-2010 SUPPORT STAFF

Damola Obadina
Graduate Assistant
Shaw University, (2009)

Damola Obadina enters his first year at NCCU, coming from Shaw University where he played under Assitant Coach Robert Brickey during his tenure.
The Minneapolis, Minn. native actually started his college career at Montana State University, where played
for one year, and after transferring ended up playing basketball at Shaw for two seasons, being named to
the All-CIAA team in back-to-back seasons 2007, 2008. Also voted Team MVP, and Team Captain. Graduated Magna Cum Laude from Shaw University with a degree in Sociology. Damola was born on March, 29,
1984 and is the son of Ronke Obadina.

Nathan Crockett
Athletic Trainer
West Virginia, (2007)

Nathan Crockett is beginning his third year as an Assistant Athletic Trainer at North Carolina Central University, but this will be his first year with the Eagles' Men's Basketball team. He also primarily works with
Football and previously with Women's Volleyball, Indoor Track and Women's Basketball. He serves as an
Approved Clinical Instructor for CATTE accredited undergraduate program.
Crockett is a 2005 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he received a B.S. in
Athletic Training. Following his undergraduate degree, he continued his education as a graduate assistant
at West Virginia University, where he received a M.S. in Athletic Training in 2007.

Darrell Saunders
Strength and Conditioning
NCCU, (2002)

Darrell Sanders is in his second year as Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at NCCU, his first
overseeing the conditioning of the Men's Basketball team.
Prior to becoming an assistant, Sanders served three years as a Graduate Assistant while earning a
master's degree in Public Administration from NCCU. Sanders also played football as an undergraduate
student-athlete at NCCU from 1998-2002.

18

www.NCCUEaglePride.com

HEAD COACH - LeVELLE MOTON
MOTON'S VISION: SUCCESS FOR EAGLES

Raleigh native overcomes humble upbringing to become N.C. Central's New Coach
WRITTEN BY EDWARD G. ROBINSON III
- Staff Writer - News & Observer
Published: Sun, Jun. 21, 2009
LeVelle Moton anticipates your laughter,
but he's so serious ...
"I want to take N.C. Central to the Final
Four," he said. "It can be done. That's why
we play the game. If we get there, get on
that dance floor, anything can happen."
He knows it sounds funny -- N.C. Central
and its new basketball coach making a deep
run in the NCAA Tournament. The school
entered Division I two years ago. The Eagles don't play in a conference, finished last
season with a 4-27 record and are not even
allowed to compete in the postseason until
2011.
But if Moton has learned one thing, it's
never to listen to those who can't see his
vision, can't understand how this kid from
Southeast Raleigh rose from Boys and
Girls Club participant to high school and
college star to Division I head coach, all
while avoiding the pitfalls of drugs and violence that befell many of his neighborhood
peers.
Since graduating from Enloe in 1992,
where he was a McDonald's All-American
Honorable Mention as a senior, he has positioned himself as an up-and-coming college coach. He's been methodical in his approach and has leveraged his status as a
local basketball figure.
He's earned respect and credibility within
the Triangle basketball community, having
created his reputation as a sweet-shooting
guard at N.C. Central and a two-time conference championship coach at once-woeful Sanderson High. He's established relationships with top recruits like John Wall.
He's the guy North Carolina players used
to train with in the summer and NBA players
consulted when they needed help.
So laugh, but he's so serious ...
"I don't know any better," said Moton, 35,
a Raleigh native who became the program's
17th coach in March. "It was the same thing
when I was at the Mini Park [basketball
courts where he played growing up], and
they were like, 'Here, hit this,' and I was like,
'No, because I'm going pro one day.' ... It's
the same chuckle I've gotten all my life."

Avoiding trouble
Moton refers to himself as the "rose that
grew from concrete."
It's a direct reference -- one he bor-

(Photo by Chuck Liddy- News & Observer)
rowed from slain rapper Tupac Shakur -to his childhood in Southeast Raleigh with
his mother, Hattie McDougald, and older
brother, Verne. They lived in a two-bedroom
apartment on East Jones street, where the
boys shared a room.
Behind their three-floor building was an
empty lot where Moton and his brother shot
baskets through a bike tire rim they hung on
a tree. They tied shoestrings as nets.
"All of this was the projects," said Moton
one day last month as he toured the neighborhood blocks down from historic Oakwood. He looked at the newly developed
homes, painted in pretty pastels, and said,
"We would have been proud to have been
from this neighborhood right there."
The neighborhood he remembered paled
in comparison. One block teemed with a
liquor house, crack house and prostitution
house. Crime, drugs and violence choked
the environment, he said.
From the basketball courts at the Mini
Park on Lane Street he could see downtown Raleigh, but it seemed worlds away.
When Moton was 9, one of his friends
was struck by a stray bullet.
Twice crooks burglarized his home.
"It's hard seeing your door open and seeing your TV gone, VCR gone, and you know
your mom has scrapped just to get that," he
said.
Growing up, he balanced a child's desire
to venture out with his mother's non-negotiable rulebook.
"He knew he couldn't get anywhere in life
with a record," McDougald said. "I stressed
that."
Determined to keep her boys from trouwww.NCCUEaglePride.com

ble, she asked former Wake County sheriff
John H. Baker Jr. to show them the inside of
the county jail.
"That was real," Moton said. "I saw how
cats were living and wanted more out of my
life."
"Telling them was one thing, showing
them was another," McDougald said.
It was a lesson that may have saved Moton from the hardships some of his friends
faced. Two of his teenage friends went to
prison for robbing and killing a store clerk.
His mother, who owned a cleaning service, provided what she could. Still, he
was teased about his free lunches in high
school.
"Poor is a mentality," Moton said. "We
didn't have financial money. But the love
and the doctrines of making you feel good
about yourself; my mother had a Ph.D. in
that."

'A safe haven'
If escaping poverty was Moton's motivation, then the Raleigh Boys and Girls Club
was his salvation.
He joined a year early, at age 5, a deal his
mother brokered to allow him to attend with
his older brother.
"I don't know what I would have done
without the Boys Club," said McDougald,
whose children attended year-round. In the
summer, they were there from 7 a.m. to 7
p.m.
They usually arrived on foot, cutting
through St. Augustine's campus, past the
Washington Terrace apartment complex.
Ron Williams, the Raleigh club's former

19

HEAD COACH - LeVELLE MOTON
athletic director, coached Moton until he
entered high school and over time became
a father figure to the boy with the Slim Jim
build and competitive nature.
Back then, the club's motto was "the club
that beats the streets."
"The Boys Club was a safe haven for
him," Williams said. "He could feel free to
come and have a good time and without
fear of all of those negative things."
Moton read his first book at the Boys
Club. He remains a voracious reader.
"They exposed me to another side," said
Moton, who easily mixed with kids from different ethnic and social backgrounds.
The boys club also fostered Moton's love
for sports. For a high-energy, gregarious
child, they provided more than enough activities, from baseball -- his first love -- to
soccer.
But you could always find Moton on the
basketball court. He'd play horse for a quarter. Or play one-on-one to 10. After a while,
with his quick first step separating him from
the pack, he'd have to spot eight points to
get a game.
"For 50 cent?" he said. "Yeah, I'll spot you
eight."

Engaging personality
Of course, Moton believes the Final Four
is within N.C. Central's grasp.
His childhood, he said, set the foundation
for him to believe that anything is possible.
He'll still spot you eight points.
Nicknamed "Poetry 'N Moton," he is third
among N.C. Central's all-time career scoring leaders with 1,714 points, owns the
3-point field goals made career record, is
fourth in free throws made, fifth in assists,
eighth in field goals made, 10th in scoring
average and 11th in steals.
He was named the 1996 CIAA player of
the year, edging Ben Wallace, now with the
NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers.
After graduating from college with a bachelor's degree in recreation administration in
1996, Moton played four seasons with professional teams in Indonesia and Israel.
In 2001, he returned home and took his
first coaching job at West Millbrook Middle
School, remaining there for three seasons
until he was hired as the head coach at
Sanderson.
"I remember early on that this was a
young man that had a tremendous capacity for doing good," said Cathy Moore, an
area superintendent with the Wake County
Public Schools, who was the principal at
Sanderson and hired Moton. She was also
his French teacher at Enloe.
People tend to like Moton, even other
coaches. He's easygoing, quick to ex-

20

his wife Bridget in 2008. She gave birth to
his first child, Brooke, on March 12.
He signed a five-year contract with N.C.
Central for an annual salary of $100,000.
"I learned so much from the have-nots,"
Moton said. "I'm glad I was at the bottom
because I got a full view of everything. Now
it comes back full circle."

Giving back

LeVelle and his wife, Bridget,

change handshakes and share a story.
"He doesn't meet a stranger," said former
Duke point guard Jeff Capel, who is now
head coach at Oklahoma.
Moton has collected mentors like Moore,
inside and outside of basketball.
"He has studied under all the good
coaches, watched them and studied them,"
Southeast Raleigh High basketball coach
John Baker III said. "He's gone through all
the proper steps."
In July 2007, Moton left Sanderson to take
an assistant job at his college alma mater,
serving as a recruiter for two seasons.
His selection as head coach came as
a surprise to some who felt the program
needed a more experienced leader as it
makes its transition from Division II.
Moton understands the pressures but is
determined to use the formula that allowed
him to succeed so far.
Despite life's challenges, he never wavered from what he knew to be the right
thing. "I never wanted to disappoint my
grandmother and mother," he said.
Now he has his own family. He married

Moton shares those lessons with players.
Many of them can relate to his underdog
story.
He continues to support the Raleigh Boys
and Girls Club. On Aug. 7, he will sponsor a
day of fun for members.
"The work he does is about the people,"
Moore said. "It's about the students, the
athletes, the colleagues he works with,
about the people who have formally and informally mentored him along the way."
Moton said he wants his players to answer four questions before they leave his
program: Who are you? What are your core
beliefs? Why are you here on this earth?
And where are you going when you leave
N.C. Central?
What should they take from him?
"The determination," he said. "The will
to succeed. A lot of men will not admit it
but I have an insecurity about myself. ...
I'm scared if I don't make it I'm going back
there."
That's why Moton can talk about reaching
the Final Four.
"That's just how my life's been," he said.
"Nobody believed me. I've always been
the underdog. I've always had to prove people wrong. For me, that's cool."
Special thanks to Edward Robinson, III
and the News & Observer for allowing
NCCU Sports Information to reprint
this article.

Moton was also featured on the frontpage of ESPN.com college basketball section
www.NCCUEaglePride.com

Career Highs AT NCCU
Points
16 at Wake Forest (11/19/07)
Rebounds
9 - three times

Worthy enters his fourth season with the Eagles as the
only remaining player from NCCU's final CIAA season.

As a Junior (2008-09)

Three-Point Field Goals Made
4 at Wake Forest (11/19/07)

Started 19 of 31 games on the season. One of two
Eagles to play all 31 games. Scored at least 1 point in
24 of 31 games. Highlight game of the season came
on Jan. 10 vs. Chicago State, went 7-9 from the
field (77.7%), scoring 15 points and grabbing 6 boards along with 2 assists and
2 steals. Scored 8 points against UNC
Wilmington (Nov. 28) and Central State
(Jan. 16). Finished third on the team
in blocks (16), field goal percentage
(46.7), and offensive rebounds
(32). Finished fifth on the team
in steals (24). Tied for the team
high in steals in four games,
including three of the first four (at
WFU, at Kent State, and at Tulsa).

One of only three Eagles to appear in all 30
games, including 10 as a starter, averaging
28.1 minutes per contest. Placed second on the team with 129 rebounds (4.3
rpg). Ranked third on the squad with 35
steals and 13 blocked shots. Topped the
team with a career-high 16 points and
7 rebounds at Wake Forest (Nov. 19).
Grabbed a career-best 9 rebounds three
times, including 9 rebounds, 4 blocked
shots, and 4 steals at Drake (Nov. 30).

As a red-shirt freshman, appeared in 24 games, including two as a starter, averaging 10.8
minutes per contest. Averaged 2.1 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. In best outing of
the season, scored nine points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting from the field during an upset
victory over Bowie State University (Feb. 15). Voted CIAA Rookie of the Week (Dec. 30)
after collecting nine points, four rebounds and two steals during a two-game road trip to
Columbus, Ga. on Dec. 29-30. Came off the bench to spark the Eagles with seven points,
three boards and a steal against Columbus State University (Dec. 30).

Nickname:
Jworv; J. Money

High School (Lewisville H.S.)
Lettered four seasons (2001-05) at Lewisville High School for head coach Jimmy Zoe.
Selected as the team’s Defensive Player of the Year in each of his last two seasons. As a
sophomore, earned team’s Most Improved Player award. Averaged seven points, six re-
bounds and more than three steals per game as a senior, missing part of the season with
a broken hand. Team captain.

What I like Most about
playing for NCCU:
Tradition, personal growth,
and a chance to make
history.

Born October 22, 1987, in Durham, N.C. Parents are Danny and Wanda Worthy, both
NCCU graduates. Father coached his AAU team for six years and is currently NCCU’s
Assistant Athletics Director for Marketing. Uncle, James Worthy, played 12 seasons in the
NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers and was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame in
2003. Major at NCCU is Environmental Science with a concentration in Geography. Se-

Favorite Coach Moton
Quote: Be more concerned
with your character than
your reputation because
your reputation is what
others think of you and your
character is who your are.

When I first met Coach
Moton I thought: Whatever
he set his mind to do, he
was going to get it done,
and if I'm going to be
successful, I would need
to listen to him.

Personal

My Role Model (and why):
My mom and sister (Wanda
and Dana Worthy). No
matter what, good day or
bad, they keep smiling and
won't let anything get them
down.
If I could chose a
profession outside
of basketball, it would
be: Meteorologist
Person in history I'd
like to meet: Confucious
Favorite Food: Mashed
Potatoes

Which four people
(dead or alive) would
you invite to dinner:
Elder Watson Diggs, and
my dad (Danny Worthy)

Glasker enters his third year in Maroon and Gray,
looking to improve his production at point guard of
last season, where he led the team with 80 assists,
mostly coming off the bench.

As a Sophomore (2008-09)
Played in 30 of 31 contests, getting the start at point
guard for 5 games. Started 4 of the last 5
games on the year. Finished the year
No. 1 on the team with 80 assists
and only 62 turnovers on the
season. Averaged 18.0 minutes
a game and 2.8 points per game,
good enough for eighth on the
team. Finished second on the
roster shooting 77.3 percent
(34-44) from the free throw
line. Also finished fourth on
the squad with 41 steals,
averaging 1.4 steals per
contest, good enough for 19th
among Independent schools.
Ranked 14th in the nation
among Independents averaging
2.5 assists per contest. Clutch
performance of the season came in
NCCU's first win against Texas PanAmerican. In 11 minutes of action
scored a career-high 14 points, including a career-best 12-of-15 from
the charity stripe down the stretch to
seal the victory for the Eagles. Also
dished out a career-best 7 assists at
MICHAEL GLASKER'S CAREER STATISTICS AT NCCU

STUDENT-ATHLETE PROFILES
Arkansas (Dec. 10). Had a four-game stretch where he was 22-25 (88.0%) at the
free throw line. Tied or produced a game-high in assists in 7 contests, while leading the way in 9 games in steals. Scored at least 2 points in the final seven games
of the season.

As a Freshman (2007-08)
Appeared in 28 games, averaging 10.3 minutes per contest. Placed third on the
team with 35 assists. Averaged 1.9 points and 1.3 assists per outing. Topped
the Eagles in three-point shooting percentage (.412), connecting on 7-of-17 from
beyond the arch. Scored a season-high 10 points at Colgate (Feb. 23). Distributed
a season-best 5 assists in consecutive games - at Utah Valley (Jan. 22) and at
Coppin State (Jan. 30).

High School (Woodside H.S.)
Averaged six points per game as a point guard. Named all-district. Team won backto-back state championships. National honors student.

Personal
Born January 19, 1989, in Fairbanks, Alaska. Parents are Michael Glasker, Sr. and
Sherry Glasker. Major at NCCU is Business with a concentration in Law.

THE MICHAEL GLASKER FILE
Nickname:
Newk

What I like most about
playing for N
CCU: The
chemistry I have with my
teammates.

When I first met Coach
Moton I thought: He was
funny and he reminded me
of P. Diddy.

Favorite Coach Moton
Quote: The only ones who
can make mistakes in life
are children and women.

My Role Model (and why):
My parents, because they
are together and happy.
If I could chose a
profession outside
of basketball, it would
be: Sports Agent

Person in history I'd
like to meet: Richard
Pryor

www.NCCUEaglePride.com

My pregame ritual is:
Listening to my IPod.
(Jay-Z and Lil Wayne)

Ultimate Goal in Life:
To be able to provide
my family with a
comfortable life.

Which four people
(dead or alive) would
you invite to dinner:
Chris Paul, Michael Jordan
my mother and father

Career Highs AT NCCU
Points
8 at UTPA (2/21/09)
Rebounds
4 at UTPA (2/21/09)
Assists
1 - twice last at K. State (2/17/09)
Steals
1 - Four times last vs. Long
(2/28/09)
Blocks
1 at Drake (12/6/08)
Field Goals Made
3 at UTPA (2/21/08)
Field Goal Attempts
6 at Arkansas (12/10/08)
Three-Point Field Goals Made
1 at K. State (2/17/09)

3-Point Field Goal Attempts
1 - ten times last at K. State
(2/17/09)
Free Throws Made
2 - five times last at UTPA
(2/21/09)
Free Throw Attempts
2 - six times last at UTPA
(2/21/09)
Minutes Played
23 at UTPA (2/21/09)

McDonald enters his third season with the Eagles looking to
make his mark during his junior season.

As a Sophomore (2008-09)
Played in 19 contests, averaging 8.0 minutes per contest.
Rejoined the team following the 2008 football season, getting 17 minutes at Drake (Dec. 6) and scoring 4 points and 3
rebounds in his debut. Scored 3 points and grabbed 2 boards
against Texas Pan-American (Dec. 7), and dropped 6 points
at Arkansas (Dec. 10), scoring in his first three contests of the
season. His top game of the season came at Texas PanAmerican (Feb. 21), where he scored a season-high 8 points,
brought down 4 rebounds, along with 1 steal
in 23 minutes of action - all career-high
numbers. Had a four-game scoring
streak from Feb. 17 to Feb. 28, scoring
19 points, going 8-for-11 from the field,
including a perfect 2-2 from the charity
stripe, along with 11 rebounds during
that span.

As a Freshman (2007-08)
Appeared in 19 games, averaging 5.2 minutes per contest. Scored in six games. Netted season-best 3 points,
shooting 1-of-2 from the field and 1-of-1 from the free
throw line, to go along with an offensive rebound at Western Kentucky (Dec. 18). Collected 2 points, a season-high
3 rebounds, and a steal at the University of Flordia (Nov.
14).

Lettered in basketball and football. Member of the football state championship team. Honor
Roll student.

Personal
Born April 7, 1988, in Wilmington, N.C. Parents are Andre and Kimberly Fox. Major at
NCCU is Criminal Justice.

Nickname:
Ralph; Loso; Oookie

What I like most about
playing for N
CCU: The
different experiences day
by day.
When I first met Coach
Moton I thought: He is
going to be a great coach.
Favorite Coach Moton
Quote: I'm your friend
off the court, but in
between the lines, we
all mean business.
My Role Model (and
why): My father, because
he teaches me life lessons
each day.
If I could chose a
profession outside
of basketball, it would
be: A successful
businessman.
Person in History I'd
like to meet: Malcolm X
My pregame ritual is:
Pray before every
game.

Greatest Sports
Accomplishment:
Playing for a Division I
college team.

Favorite Food: Triple
Cheese Hamburger
Helper

Which four people
(dead or alive) would
you invite to dinner:
Barack Obama, Bob
Marley, Bill Gates, and
Oprah Winfrey

Raphael also played football during the 2008 season. (Photos by Robert Lawson, NCCU)

2009 Preseason
2nd-Team
All-Independent
Team Member
Lindy's College
Basketball

Davis enters his second season at NCCU, looking to expand upon his impressive first season.

As a Sophomore (2008-09)
Made an immediate impact on the Eagles
roster, participating in 30 games while making
25 starts on the season. Made 17 consecutive starts to begin his career. Finished his first
campaign for the maroon and gray as one of
three Eagles to register a double-figure
scoring average (11.2 ppg) which was
good enough for third on the team. He
topped the team in blocks (26) and
was second in steals (47). Ended
up fourth on the roster in three-point
FG% shooting 29.2% (27-of-92),
free-throw percentage (75.7%), and
assists (1.1 apg) while wrapping up
his rookie season at NCCU second on the squad in rebounds
(4.0 rpg). Scored in double
figures the first 11 games of
his Eagle career. Earned
All-Tournament team
honors at both the
South Padre Island
Invitational and the
Drake/Iowa Realty
Invitational. In South
Padre, he racked up
25 points, 9 steals, 5
blocks, 8 rebounds, and
2 assists in the Thanksgiving
event. In the weekend's first game picked
up career-highs of 6 steals and 3 blocks
against UNC Wilmington. Up in Des Moines
for the tournament at Drake, he ripped off 37
VINCENT DAVIS'S CAREER STATISTICS AT NCCU

STUDENT-ATHLETE PROFILES
points (24 of those against Drake on Dec. 6, which was his highest output at that point
in the year) grabbed 7 boards, 4 steals, 2 blocks, and 2 assists. Scored 10 or more
points in 19 of 30 games played. Logged 30-plus minutes in 15 games. His season-best
27 points came at Longwood (Feb. 25) where he shot 8-of-16 from the field, including
3-of-7 from three-point range. Hit 3 three-pointers in 6 contests, which included a perfect
3-for-3 performance against Texas Pan-American (Jan. 14). Scored 20 or more points
three times. Two games later he tied that mark with 3 more blocks at Drake (Dec. 6).
Grabbed 9 boards against Kent State (Nov. 17) which was another career-best number.
Had an eight-game shot blocking streak from Nov. 20 at Florida Gulf Coast untill Dec. 10
at Arkansas. During that time he amassed 14 blocks. Led the team in scoring five times,
while grabbing the most boards on the squad six times. Also piled up a game-high in
steals six times, while leading the way recording the most blocked shots on the roster in
10 contests.

Transfer (Motlow State Community College)
Transferred to NCCU from Motlow State Community College in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Played in 23 games for the Bucks, averaging 14 minutes per contest. Averaged
4.6 points and 2.3 rebounds during the 2006-07 season. Topped team by shooting 52.1
percent from the field. Scored team-high 23 points with nine rebounds versus Walters
State (Feb. 3, 2007).

High School (Pearl-Cohn H.S.)
Earned all-region and all-district honors. Averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds. Graduated high school with academic honors and ranked 25th in his senior class.

Personal
Born March 7, 1988, in Nashville, Tennessee. Parents are Vencent Gaddes and Tracy
Davis. Major at NCCU is Parks and Recreation Management.

the VINCENT DAVIS FILE
Nickname:
Vince

What I like most about
playing for NCCU:
Being underestimated.
When I first met Coach
Moton I thought: I wonder
how packed those games
were when he played
at NCCU.
Favorite Coach Moton
Quote: He who believes
he can and he who believes
he can't are both usually
right. Which one are you?

My Role Model (and why):
My father, because
throughout all of his
endeavors he never
gave up.

If I could chose a
profession outside
of basketball, it would
be: Director of Metro
Parks in Nashville, TN

Person in history I'd
like to meet: Martin
Luther King, Jr.

My pregame ritual is:
Stretch in locker room or
hotel. Call my dad so that
he can wish me good
luck.

Greatest Sports
Accomplishment:
College Athletic
Scholarship

Favorite Food: Meatloaf

www.NCCUEaglePride.com

Which four people
(dead or alive) would
you invite to dinner:
Mother, Father, Aunt, and
Sister

Chasten ended his first season as one
of the top players on the squad, scoring
in double-figures the last three games.

As a Freshman (2008-09)

Sat out first semester due to NCAA
Clearinghouse issues. First game as
an Eagle (Dec. 18) vs. Winston-Salem
State. Made sparkling debut scoring in
double-figures (10 pts) on 5-11 shooting in 21 minutes of action. Finished
the season sixth on the team in scoring,
averaging 6.8 points per game. Finished 9-for-36 (25.0%) from threepoint range, second on the squad.
Fifth on the roster shooting
42.9% from the field. Ended
up fourth in rebounds (3.9 rpg)
and blocked shots (12). Registered team-high numbers in
rebounds in six games. Also
recorded team-high numbers
in blocks three times, while
leading the team in steals
the final two contests. Recorded his first double-double
in the MEAC Tournament
“Bonus Game” against WinstonSalem State (March 14) scoring
13 points on 6-of-13 shooting while
grabbing a career-high 10 boards, and
collecting 3 steals in NCCU's victory.
Scored his career-best 15 points two
times during his rookie campaign. The
first came in just his third outing at No.
NICK CHASTEN'S CAREER STATISTICS AT NCCU

STUDENT-ATHLETE PROFILES
23/24 Michigan (Dec. 29), where he scored 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting to go along with
his 2 rebounds. The last came at Savannah State (March 2).

High School (Leesville Road H.S./Charis Prep)
Attended Leesville Road High School in Raleigh, N.C., before joining Charis Prep in
Goldsboro, N.C. Averaged 21 points and 12 rebounds in his final season at Leesville
Road High School. Named Team M.V.P., First-Team Cap-7 All-Conference and First-Team
All-Triangle before attending Charis Prep. Averaged 15 points and 8 rebounds for head
coach Carlos Peralta at Charis Prep. Scored career-high 30 points versus Carolina Prep.

Personal
Born October 27, 1987 in Raleigh, N.C. Parents at Sam and Linda Chasten. Major at
NCCU is Mass Communications.

the NICK CHASTEN FILE
Nickname:
Ace Boogie

What I like most about
playing for NCCU:
The history of the
basketball program
here.
When I first met Coach
Moton I thought: He
would bring the best
basketball ability out of me.
Favorite Coach Moton
Quote: He who believes
he can and he who believes
he can't are both usually
right.

My Role Model (and why):
My father, because
he knows how to be a
good person and
independent and
successful.

If I could chose a
profession outside
of basketball, it would
be: Musician

What I like most about
playing for N
CCU: The
History
When I first met Coach
Moton I thought: A
change has come.

First Year at NCCU (2008-09)
Did not compete during his junior season due to injury.

Transfer (Dutchess Community College)

Earned 2008 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-Region XV Second Team honors after
averaging 19.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per contest during his sophomore season at Dutchess
Favorite Coach Moton
C.C. Ranked as the third leading scorer in the
Quote: Get on the Line.
region. In his first college season (2006-07)
You Owe Me!
at Dutchess C.C., averaged 12.7 points and
My Role Model (and why): 8.3 rebounds for the Falcons. Among his top
My grandfather. He worked performances as a sophomore, amassed 31
points and 17 rebounds versus Kingsborough
everyday of his life and
supported our family no
C.C. on Dec. 15, 2007, then scored a careermatter what, and never
high 32 points against Technical Career
complained.
Institute on Jan. 12.

If I could chose a
profession outside
of basketball, it would
be: Child Psychologist

Person in history I'd
like to meet: Sigmund
Freud
Favorite Food: Shrimp
pasta from Red Lobster

32

Pittman waits to make an impact on the Eagles after missing the
08-09 season due to injury.

Which four people
(dead or alive) would
you invite to dinner:
God, my grandmother
(Sylvia), and my kids
(Lamar & La'Mya)

High School (Poughkeepsie H.S.)
A double-double, all-league performer at
his native Poughkeepsie High School
for head coach Brian Laffin. Prior to
his senior season in the summer
of 2004, was one of 300 players
invited to the prestigious Nike
Camp in Indianapolis, Ind.

Personal
Lamar Rashon Pittman is the
Son of Ben Pittman and Virginia Murray. Major at NCCU is Psychology. Born
on Dec. 10, 1986 in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Sapara eagerly awaits his NCCU debut after
sitting out last season due to injury.

Nickname:
D-Black

First Year at NCCU (2008-09)

What I like most about
playing for N
CCU: Gives
me an opportunity to play
High School (Port Richmond H.S./Charis top competition.
Prep)
Attended Port Richmond High School in
When I first met Coach
Staten Island, New York, before joining Charis Moton I thought: He is
going to make me a better
Prep in Wilson, N.C. Averaged eight
points, six rebounds and three player and take me to that
steals for head coach Carlos next level.
Peralta at Charis Prep.
Favorite Coach Moton
Quote: "212"- At 211
Personal
degrees, water is hot.
Born on July 12, 1988,
At 212 degrees, it boils.
in Brooklyn, New York.
And with boiling water,
Parents are Ademola and comes steam.
Mobola Sapara. Major at And with steam, you can
NCCU is Business Man- power a train.
agement with a minor in
If I could chose a
Marketing.
profession outside
of basketball, it would
be: Sports Agent
Person in history I'd
like to meet: Martin Luther
King, Jr.
Favorite Food: Where do I
start?
Which four people
(dead or alive) would
you invite to dinner:
MLK Jr., Dwayne Wade,
Lebron James, and Barack
Obama
Did not compete last season due to injury.

Fleming is one of six players that signed in
Moton's first recruiting class. He is expected to
come in and be a contributor at the point almost
immediately.

My Role Model (and why):
My dad, because he is a
High School (Centennial H.S.)
hard worker and doesn't
Teammate of N.C. State recruit Lorenzo Brown,
quit.
and was a huge part of the squad's 25-6
record his senior season. He was
If I could chose a
profession outside
named Team Defensive Player of
of basketball, it would
the Year in his final season for
be: Physical Therapist
the Knights while leading
the team to numerous
Person in history I'd
Top 10 rankings in
like to meet: Michael
the state of GeorJordan
gia. CHS was
ranked no.
Greatest Sports
Accomplishment: Getting 1 in 5-A in
the month
a college scholarship.
of February,
while ranked
Favorite Food: Burgers
and Pizza
no. 3 in Georgia's
5-A classification by the
My Pregame Ritual is:
Sportswriters Association Poll in
Listen to music and
the state. Lost in the Sweet Sixteen
eat candy.
to South Gwinnett. Won the GlaxoSmithKline Tournament title in Raleigh,
Ultimate Goal in Life:
N.C. During his junior season he
Live a happy and
was named All-County and Cosuccessful life.
MVP.
Which four people
(dead or alive) would
you invite to dinner:
Mom, Dad, girlfriend and
my grandmother

Personal
Ryan Bernard Fleming was born
on November 2, 1990 in Columbia, S.C. He is the son of Terrance and Gwendolyn Fleming.

Granger brings much needed size to the
NCCU lineup, should contribute from the
get-go.

Allegany College of Maryland (200809)
Played a crucial role for the Trojans, who
finished the season 29-7 overall and 14-2
in the Maryland Junior College Athletic
Conference under Head Coach Mike
Baker. Averaged 9.4 points
per game and was third on
the team with 5.4 rebounds a
game. Named to the Region
XX All-Tournament Team
after putting up a doubledouble with 16 points and 15
rebounds. That all-star performance helped vault the
program to its 20th Region
XX Division I tournament
championship. Attended
the same institution of
former University of
Maryland star and NBA
veteran, Steve Francis.

the T.J. GRANGER FILE

Nickname:
Jizzle, Big Sexi

What I like most about
playing for N
CCU: The
experience I will get, the
coaching I will receive.
When I first met Coach
Moton I thought: He was
all about getting the job
done.
Favorite Coach Moton
Quote: We Not Me.

My Role Model (and why):
My grandma, because
she raised five kids and
seven grandsons.

High School (Thomas Jeffer
son H.S.)
First-Team All-Colonial Conference
honors along with receiving honor-
able mention on the All-Region
Team. He averaged 15 points a
game his senior season.
Personal
Terrance Keith Granger, Jr.,
was born on January 24, 1990.
Grandmother is Ruby Graham.
Majoring in Sociology at NCCU.

If I could chose a
profession outside
of basketball, it would
be: A football player.
Person in history I'd
like to meet: Barack
Obama
My Pregame Ritual is:
Listening to Music
Which four people
(dead or alive) would
you invite to dinner:
Barack Obama, Martin
Luther King Jr., My mom,
and Rosa Parks

www.NCCUEaglePride.com

35

STUDENT-ATHLETE PROFILES

42
Dijon Manns

6-8 • 245 • Forward • Freshman
Raleigh, N.C. • Knightdale H.S.

the DIJON MANNS FILE

Nickname:
Slick

What I like most about
playing for N
CCU: It's
like a big family.
When I first met Coach
Moton I thought: He is a
real guy and he's going
to be more than a c oach
to me.

36

Favorite Coach Moton
Quote: The depth of
your struggles will
determine the heights
of your success.

My Role Model (and why):
My mom, because she is
the strongest person I
know and she has been
there for me.

If I could chose a
profession outside
of basketball, it would
be: ESPN Analyst

Person in history I'd
like to meet: Malcolm X

Manns looks to make an instant impact in the post in
his rookie season at NCCU.

High School (Knightdale H.S.)
One of just three players in Knightdale High School’s
short history to play all four years of varsity basketball
under Head Coach Battle Watkins. In his senior campaign, scored in double figures 11 times,
including a season-high 20 points in an
87-48 win over Southeast Raleigh
High School. Put up a doubledouble against Athens Drive in the
conference tournament with 14
points and 12 rebounds in the win.
Named to the Greater Neuse River
All-Conference team in the 2007-08
season and was a key contributor of 73
wins during his time at KHS. Vital member of
both a regular season and tournament championship in the Greater Neuse River Conference,
while piling up 614 points and grabbing 250
boards in four seasons.

Personal
Dijon Lamar Manns was born on April 9, 1991
and is the son of Al Utley and Teresa Manns.
He is majoring in Physical Eduction with a concentration in athletic training.

Which four people
(dead or alive) would
you invite to dinner:
Tupac, Jesus, Dave
Chapelle, and Michael
Jackson

Sims is a part of Moton's first recruiting
class, and also could be a key contributor
in the 2009-2010 season.

Clinton Junior College (2007-09)
Averaged 10.0 points and 6.8 rebounds
per outing in his second season with the
Golden Bears. Recorded six double-doubles during his second season at CJC and
tickled the twine to the tune of 33 percent from the perimeter. In his freshman season at the college, he poured
in 11.0 points a game and grabbed
5.6 boards a contest for Head Coach
Donald Payton’s squad.

High School (Trotwood-Madison
H.S.)
Teammate of University of
Dayton star Chris Wright
Played a primary role
in the teams run to the
State championship
game in 2006, and
another playoff appearance in 2007. During his senior season,
scored in double-figures
eight times including 16 points, against
Columbus Eastmoor Academy. He was
named All-State his senior year.

Personal

Nickname:
Silky Smoove, D3 All Day

What I like most about
playing for N
CCU: We're
like a big family and we're
bonding and learning key
factors of the game.

When I first met Coach
Moton I thought: He was
a lifesaver because he
knows the game so well.

My Role Model (and why):
Lebron James, because
he has accomplished
all the goals I am
striving for.

If I could chose a
profession outside
of basketball, it would
be: Sports Management

Person in History I'd
like to meet: Martin Luther
King, Jr.

Dwayne Henry Sims was born on Septem-
ber 11, 1988 in Dayton, Ohio. His mother
is Karen Gentry. Majoring in Sociology at
NCCU. Runs a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash.
www.NCCUEaglePride.com

Which four people
(dead or alive) would
you invite to dinner:
Martin Luther King, Jr.,
Barack Obama, Lebron
James, and Michael
Jordan

37

STUDENT-ATHLETE PROFILES

12
C.J. Wilkerson

6-3 • 200 • Guard • Junior
Oxford, N.C. • Clinton Junior College

the c.j. wilkerson FILE

Nickname:
Since coming to NCCUDrizzy or Drake
What I like most about
playing for N
CCU: The
fun I have with my
teammates.
When I first met Coach
Moton I thought: He was
an even better person
than a coach.
Favorite Coach Moton
Quote: "212"- At 211
degrees, water is hot.
At 212 degrees, it boils.
And with boiling water,
comes steam.
And with steam, you can
power a train.

38

Clinton Junior College
(2008-09)
Started all 33 games for the
Golden Bears under Head
Coach Donald Payton. Earned
First-Team All-Region X honors
after averaging 14.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per outing. Also
named Team MVP.

Southeastern Iowa Community College (2007-08)
Started 29 of 31 games in one season with
the Blackhawks.

High School (J.F. Webb H.S.)

Named All-Conference in the Mid-State 3-A
My Role Model (and why): three times, along with Player of the Year honors
My mom, because she has his senior season. He was also named the “District Player of the Year” by the Henderson Daily
always been a strong
Dispatch. Led the Warriors to the playoffs three
and independent woman
years in a row. Averaged 18.7 points per contest his
and that gives me the
motivation to be the same
senior year, including 26.7 points per outing in the
and make her proud
playoffs.
everday.

Person in History I'd
like to meet: Martin
Luther King, Jr.

Wilkerson is another newcomer that will be counted
upon to contribute immediately
for NCCU.

Which four people
(dead or alive) would
you invite to dinner:
Michael Jordan, Carmelo
Anthony, Lebron James,
and Allen Iverson

Personal

C.J. Wilkerson was born on January 31, 1989 in
Oxford, N.C. He is the son of Connell Wilkerson
Jr, and Janice S. Downey. Majoring in Sociology
at NCCU.

www.NCCUEaglePride.com

STUDENT-ATHLETE PROFILES

Tramar Beaman

6-1 • 180 • Guard • Junior
Williamston, N.J. • Univ. of the Sciences
Transfer (University of the Sciences in Philadelphia):
Played for two seasons at the University of the Sciences in Philadephia, and was named to the Central
Atlantic Collegiate Conference Men's Basketball Weekly Honor Roll for his performance during the week
ending in Dec. 7, 2008, averaging 17.5 points a game. At one point during his sophomore season, was
USP's leading scorer and topped the team in field goal percentage (60.8 percent), which ranked him third
in the CACC. Ranked 24th in the league averaging 11.3 points per game.
Personal
Tramar is the son of Joseph and Gail Beaman, and was born on May 25, 1989 in Vorhees, N.J. Majoring
in Sports Management at NCCU.

Effrin Ellison

6-0 • 160 • Guard • Freshman
Waterbury, Conn. • Sacred Heart H.S.
High School (Sacred Heart High School)
Excelled for Sacred Heart, scoring a season-high 25 points, 5-of-6 three-pointers, helping contribute
to Sacred Heart's nine-game winning streak. He received All-City honors. Was a vital part of Sacred
Heart's 2009 State and City Championship.
Personal
Effrin (E.J.) Rowe Ellison is the son of Effrin Ellison, Sr and Gail Gatling-Ellison. Born on May 24, 1991 in
Waterbury, Conn. Majoring in Mass Communications at NCCU.

High School (Leesville Road High School)
Played three years at Leesville Road High School, and excelled in the classroom earning a 4.0 GPA.
Personal
James Cleveland Sherrod, II was born on July 12, 1988 in Raleigh, NC. He is the son of James and
Marsha Sherrod. Majoring in Mathematics with a concentration in Computer Science. Owns his own
basketball camp with his father, “Be All For Christ Basketball Camp”.

P.J. Taylor

6-0 • 180 • Guard • Junior
High Point, N.C. • Fullerton College
Fullerton College/ Blinn College
Prior to walking-on at NCCU, attended both Blinn College (2007-2008) and Fullerton College(2008-2009).
Was a vital member of 2008-2009 Orange Empire Conference Championship squad.
Personal
Paul Jackson Taylor is the son of Aaron and Linda Taylor, born on April 21, 1988 in Washington, D.C. Majoring in Exercise Sports Science at NCCU
www.NCCUEaglePride.com

39

40

www.NCCUEaglePride.com

EAGLES LOCKER ROOM

Eagles Locker Room Gets an upgrade
With the change in regime, came a facelift
to the men's locker room at NCCU. Unique
Designs and Crank Creative teamed up
with NCCU Basketball to put up a brandnew wall-mural that pays homage to the
enriched past of North Carolina Central
Basketball. The area that is shown on the
page is the lounge area for the team which
includes a 50-inch flat screen HDTV.

DID YOU KNOW ???
One of the two players
who broke the N.B.A.
color barrier played for
North Carolina Central
University.
On April 6, 1950, both
Harold Hunter of (then)
North Carolina College
and Earl Lloyd of West
Virginia State, became the
first black athletes signed
and admitted to play in the National
Basketball Association.
www.NCCUEaglePride.com

Basketball History
First Year of Basketball.................................... 1926
Seasons of Basketball...........................................83
Overall All-Time Record .......................... 831-642
Years in NCAA Tournament...................................6
NCAA Appearances............................................... 6
NCAA Titles...........................................................0
NCAA Final Four Appearances..............................0
ACC Championships..............................................0

Basketball History
First Year of Basketball................................... 1963-64
Seasons of Basketball...............................................47
Overall All-time Record.................................. 539-586
Years in NCAA Tournament.......................................3
Last Appearance....................................................2002
NCAA Titles..........................................................N/A
NCAA Final Four Appearances.............................N/A
USAC Regular-Season First-Place Finishes...............5
USAC Tournament Championships............................3

Basketball History
First Year of Basketball................................... 1981-82
Seasons of Basketball...............................................28
Overall All-time Record.................................. 334-460
Years in NCAA Tournament.......................................1
Last Appearance....................................................1995
NCAA Titles..........................................................N/A
NCAA Final Four Appearances..................................0
Sun Belt Championships.............................................1

Basketball History
First Year of Basketball.........................................1925
Seasons of Basketball...............................................84
Overall All-time Record............................... 1,393-808
Years in NCAA Tournament.....................................13
Last Appearance....................................................2006
NCAA Titles...............................................................0
NCAA Final Four Appearances..................................0
OVC Championships................................................13

Basketball History
First Year of Basketball.........................................1945
Seasons of Basketball...............................................64
Overall All-time Record.................................. 613-510
Years in NCAA Tournament.......................................4
Last Appearance....................................................1994
NCAA Titles...............................................................0
NCAA Final Four Appearances..................................0
CAA Championships..................................................4

Basketball History
First Year of Basketball.........................................1901
Seasons of Basketball.............................................108
Overall All-time Record............................ 1,466-1,006
Years in NCAA Tournament.....................................22
Last Appearance....................................................2006
NCAA Titles...............................................................0
NCAA Final Four Appearances..................................3
Big Ten Championships..............................................8

Basketball History
First Year of Basketball.........................................1956
Seasons of Basketball...............................................53
Overall All-time Record.................................. 620-782
Years in NCAA Tournament.......................................4
Last Appearance....................................................2006
NCAA Titles...............................................................0
NCAA Final Four Appearances..................................0
MWC Championships.................................................0

Basketball History
First Year of Basketball.........................................1998
Seasons of Basketball...............................................11
Overall All-time Record.........................................N/A
Years in NCAA Tournament..................................N/A
Last Appearance.....................................................N/A
NCAA Titles..........................................................N/A
NCAA Final Four Appearances.............................N/A
MWC Championships............................................N/A

Basketball History
First Year of Basketball.........................................2001
Seasons of Basketball.................................................8
Overall All-time Record.................................... 135-80
Years in NCAA Tournament.......................................0
Last Appearance.....................................................N/A
NCAA Titles..........................................................N/A
NCAA Final Four Appearances.............................N/A
A-Sun Championships...........................................N/A

Basketball History
First Year of Basketball.........................................1900
Seasons of Basketball.............................................109
Overall All-time Record................................ 1623-895
Years in NCAA Tournament.....................................35
Last Appearance....................................................2008
NCAA Titles.................1940, 1953, 1976, 1981, 1987
NCAA Final Four Appearances..................................8
Big Ten Championships............................................20

Basketball History
First Year of Basketball.........................................1921
Seasons of Basketball...............................................88
Overall All-time Record.............................1079-980-1
Years in NCAA Tournament.......................................7
Last Appearance....................................................2002
NCAA Titles...............................................................0
NCAA Final Four Appearances..................................0
MAC Regular Season Championships........................7
MAC Tournament Championships.............................7

Basketball History
First Year of Basketball.........................................1927
Seasons of Basketball...............................................82
Overall All-time Record................................ 1252-921
Years in NCAA Tournament.......................................0
Last Appearance.....................................................N/A
NCAA Titles..........................................................N/A
NCAA Final Four Appearances.............................N/A
Big South Regular Season Championships................0
Big South Tournament Championships......................0

Basketball History
First Year of Basketball.........................................1931
Seasons of Basketball...............................................79
Overall All-time Record.................................. 945-958
Years in NCAA Tournament.......................................2
Last Appearance....................................................1993
NCAA Titles...............................................................0
NCAA Final Four Appearances..................................0
C-USA Regular Season Championships.....................0
C-USA Tournament Championships...........................0

Basketball History
First Year of Basketball.........................................1931
Seasons of Basketball...............................................79
Overall All-time Record.................................. 945-958
Years in NCAA Tournament.......................................2
Last Appearance....................................................1996
NCAA Titles...............................................................0
NCAA Final Four Appearances..................................0
Patriot League Regular Season Championships.........3
Patriot League Tournament Championships...............2

Basketball History
First Year of Basketball..........................................N/A
Seasons of Basketball............................................N/A
Overall All-time Record.........................................N/A
Years in NCCAA Tournament....................................0
USCAA Regular Season First Place......................N/A
USCAA National Championships..............................7

Basketball History
First Year of Basketball.........................................1920
Seasons of Basketball...............................................89
Overall All-time Record.........................................N/A
USCAA National Championships..............................2
USCAA National Tournament....................................4

Basketball History
First Year of Basketball.........................................1908
Seasons of Basketball.............................................101
Overall All-time Record............................. 1,281-1070
Years in NCAA Tournament.......................................8
Last Appearance....................................................2007
NCAA Titles...............................................................0
NCAA Final Four Appearances..................................0
ACC Regular Season Championships........................0
ACC Tournament Championships..............................0

Basketball History
First Year of Basketball.........................................1908
Seasons of Basketball.............................................101
Overall All-time Record............................. 1,281-1070
Years in NCAA Tournament..................................N/A
Last Appearance.....................................................N/A
NCAA Titles..........................................................N/A
NCAA Final Four Appearances.............................N/A

Basketball History
First Year of Basketball.........................................1908
Seasons of Basketball.............................................101
Overall All-time Record............................. 1,281-1070
Years in NCAA Tournament.......................................8
Last Appearance....................................................2007
NCAA Titles...............................................................0
NCAA Final Four Appearances..................................0
Horizon League Regular Season Championships.......0
Horizon League Tournament Championships.............0

Basketball History
First Year of Basketball.........................................1910
Seasons of Basketball...............................................99
Overall All-time Record............................... 1,535-923
Years in NCAA Tournament.....................................22
Last Appearance....................................................2006
NCAA Titles...............................................................2
NCAA Final Four Appearances..................................2
ACC Regular Season Championships........................7
ACC Tournament Championships............................10

Basketball History
First Year of Basketball.........................................1903
Seasons of Basketball.............................................106
Overall All-time Record.............................. 1164-1016
Years in NCAA Tournament.......................................0
Last Appearance....................................................2006
NCAA Titles...............................................................2
NCAA Final Four Appearances..................................2
Summit League Regular Season Championships.......0
Summit League Tournament Championships.............0

NCCU Sees Light at the End of Treacherous Tunnel
The second season for North Carolina
Central University at the Division I
level brought along more of the same
challenges that year one sent NCCU's
way. The Eagles under the direction of
fifth-year Head Coach Henry Dickerson
finished with a 4-27 record that included
a “Senior Night” victory over fellow
independent Longwood University 82-64
on Feb. 28, and a second season-ending
triumph over rival Winston-Salem State
University in the MEAC Bonus Game 6356 on March 14.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN, AGAIN, AND AGAIN

During NCCU’s first season of Division
I competition in 2007-08, the Eagles
traveled roughly 22,280 miles to 23 road
games in 13 different states. The 200809 NCCU schedule was quiet familiar to
the returning Eagles. The travel itinerary
included 21 road games, covering
approximately 25,344 miles, in 14 states
(Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois,
Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, North Carolina,
Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South
Carolina, Texas, Virginia), including eight
states (Ark., Ga., Ill., Kan., Okla., Pa.,
S.C., Texas) the Eagles did not compete
in during last season’s 13-state tour.

56

INJURY BUG HITS NCCU,
SEASON WITH 8 PLAYERS

STARTS

The injury bug hit the Eagles hard at
the beginning of the 2008-09 season
to the point where only eight players
dressed out for NCCU's Nov. 14
opening-night affair at Wake Forest.
Preseason injuries to junior-transfers
Lamar Pittman (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.)
and Dami Sapara (Staten Island, N.Y.)
were both lost for the season due to
injury, while both Nick Chasten (Raleigh,
N.C.) and Norbert Randall (Jacksonville,
Fla.) sat out the first semester awaiting
clearance from the NCAA. To make
matters even worse for NCCU, senior
Bryan Ayala was suspended the first
semester due to a violation of Athletics
Department policy. Raphael McDonald,
a member of the 2008 NCCU Football
Team, rejoined the roster after football
season was complete to give the
Eagles nine players, but it wasn't until
December 18, when NCCU finally had
all the pieces they could possibly have
in place. Luckily, Henry Dickerson's
squad never witnessed any major
injuries throughout the remainder of the
2008-09 season.

www.NCCUEaglePride.com

Both Bryan Ayala (Above) and Nick Chasten missed time in the first semester, but
combined to average 18.7 points per game.
(Photos by Wolverine Photo)

2008-2009 SEASON REVIEW
DAVIS EARNS ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
HONORS TWICE

BRISCOE RECEIVES
STANDING OVATION AT DUQUESNE

NCCU sophomore guard Vincent
Davis was selected to two AllTournament Teams last season. In
the final two games of the 2008 South
Padre Island Invitational (Nov. 2829), Davis amassed 25 points, nine
steals, eight rebounds, five blocked
shots and two assists to earn AllTournament Team honors. In his best
outing, Davis recorded 15 points, six
steals, five boards, three rejections and an

On Dec. 22, 2008, those inside the
Palumbo Center at Duquesne University
in Pittsburgh, Pa., took part in something
rarely seen in college sports. When visiting
NCCU rookie guard Jamar Briscoe fouled
out of the game with 1:23 remaining after
scoring a career-high 34 points, the home
fans gave Briscoe a standing ovation. A
classy move by the Duquesne faithful.

assist against UNC-Wilmington on Nov. 28
in South Texas. On Dec. 6-7 at the Drake/
Iowa Realty Invitational, Davis collected 37
points (18.5 avg.), seven rebounds, four
blocked shots, four steals and two assists to
capture All-Tournament Team recognition.

NCCU trailed nationally-ranked
Michigan by just seven points at
intermission and was within eight points
with less than nine minutes left in the
contest, but the Wolverines held off the
determined Eagles for a 77-57 victory
on Dec. 29 inside Crisler Arena in Ann
Arbor, Mich. Michigan was ranked No.
23 by the Associated Press and No. 24
by the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.
NCCU won the Divsion II National title
under Head Coach Michael Bernard,
while Michigan won the 1989 Division
I National Championship under Steve
Fisher.

BATTLE OF 1989 NATIONAL CHAMPS

AYALA FINISHES NCCU CAREER IN
STYLE

Senior guard Bryan Ayala needed
15 points in the final game of his career
to reach the milestone of 1,000 points.
The Norfolk, Va. Native got to that
plateau in thrilling fashion by scoring
18 of his 19 points in the second-half,
leading an Eagle surge in the final half.
His free-throw with 42.6 seconds left
in the game not only helped seal the
win for NCCU, but Ayala became the
32nd Eagle in school history to score
1,000 career points. Ayala also ended
his tenure at NCCU as the school's alltime leader in steals (196) and ranks
second on the Eagles career assists
list with 366.
NCCU
FRESHMAN
NATION'S
SECOND LEADING SCORER

Vincent Davis scored in double figures in his
first 11 games at NCCU. (Photo by Wolverine
Photo)

NCCU freshman guard Jamar
Briscoe made his presence felt from
day one in a maroon and gray uniform.
He began his only season with an 18www.NCCUEaglePride.com

Bryan Ayala (above) finished his Eagle career,
No. 1 on the all-time Steals list, and second in
career assists.

point performance against Wake Forest
and was one of only three rookies to
be ranked among the Top 100 scorers
in NCAA Division I men’s basketball.
The native of Baltimore, Md. scored
30 points or more five different times
during his freshman campaign, one of
which included 37 points on “Senior
Night”. Briscoe finished the year as the
nation’s second-leading scoring rookie
with 535 points for an average of 17.8
points per game, which put him tied
for 71st in the nation. The freshman
with the most points among Division I
leaders was Seth Curry of Liberty, who
ended his only season at Liberty 23rd
with 680 points (20.6 ppg).
BRISCOE RACKS UP AWARDS
Jamar Briscoe's efforts on the
hardwood in his only season at NCCU
certainly were recognized by not only

57

2008-2009 SEASON REVIEW
the local media, but Briscoe garnered
plenty of awards during and after his
rookie campaign.

consecutive games, making the Eagles’
run 497 out of the last 498 contests.
THE CONFERENCE CAROUSEL

-Heritage Sports Network's National
Player of the Week based on fan
voting three times (Week of Jan 11-17,
Jan. 25-Jan 31, and Feb. 22-Mar. 4),
-Division I Independent “Newcomer
of the Year”
-Heritage Sports Radio Network
“Rookie of the Year”
-College Insider.com Freshman MidMajor All-America Team
-Black College All-America Team
-NCCSIA All-State Second Team
Member
EAGLES STREAK FROM LONG RANGE

As a team, NCCU have made a
three-point field goal in 102 consecutive
games. The last time the Eagles failed
to make a shot from beyond the arch
was on Jan. 17, 2006, during a 6461 victory over Livingstone College in
Salisbury, N.C. From the start of the
1991-92 season until Jan. 14, 2006,
NCCU made a three-pointer in 395

In the Division I Basketball tier of
the NCAA, there are 32 conferences
across the nation. During the 20082009 season, the NCCU Eagles took
on teams from 14 different conferences.
Listed are the conferences in which
NCCU faced opponents in: ACC (Wake
Forest, Miami, and N.C. State); MAC
(Kent State); Atlantic Sun (Florida Gulf
Coast); Conference USA (Tulsa); CAA
(UNC-Wilmington and Old Dominion);
SWAC (Jackson State); SEC (Arkansas
and South Carolina); Missouri Valley
(Drake);
MEAC
(Winston-Salem
State); Atlantic 10 (Duquesne); Big
Ten (Michigan); Big 12 (Kansas State);
Patriot (Colgate); and Great West
(Texas-Pan American and Chicago
State).

postseason play, which includes seven
20-win teams. So, in essence, nearly
one-third of the Eagles schedule was
against teams that made it to the second
season of college basketball. Here is
a list of the teams that qualified it to
postseason play, and their records.

SHAWN RAY (2000-03)
In just three seasons as an Eagle, Ray ranks among
the school's top 20 career leaders in points (1,216),
scoring average (16.7), assists (215), steals (166),
field goals (430), and free throws (223).

Jonathan Moore, James Tucker, Jason Hervey
and Jermond Debro celebrate after rallying from
a 21-point, second-half deficit to capture a miracle
victory over Elizabeth City State in the first round
of the 2004 CIAA Tournament. NCCU advanced
all the way to the championship final.
02-10-04
02-14-04
02-18-04
02-19-04
02-21-04
02-25-04
02-26-04
02-27-04
02-28-04

North Carolina Central University senior David Young
had his dream fulfilled on June 24, 2004, when the Seattle
Supersonics selected the All-CIAA guard with the 41st overall
pick in the 2004 NBA Draft.
Young, NCCU’s first NBA draft pick in 21 years, sat alone
in an Atlanta hotel room when he saw his name flash on the
television as the 12th player chosen in the second round.
After ending his college career as the Eagles’ top scorer
in 2003-04 with 20.5 points per game, Young faced a long and
tough journey around the NBA workout circuit.
“I have endured and persevered through a lot of tough
times.” Young said reflecting on his life and basketball career.
“I have always dreamed about playing in the NBA. I got a
second opportunity at North Carolina Central University and
now my dream has come true.”

Enshrined: As a coach on April 30, 1979
Born: April 5, 1915 in Hiawatha, KS
Died: October 8, 1999
NCCU: Head Coach, 1940-1952

Enshrined: As a player on April 30, 1984
Born: June 24, 1933 in Laurinburg, NC
NCCU: Student-Athlete, 1951-54 / 1956-57

John B. McLendon’s contributions to the sport of basketball
are virtually innumerable. His advisor at the University of Kansas
was the inventor of
basketball, Dr. James
Naismith.
At North
Carolina College from
1937 to 1952, and as
head basketball coach
from 1940 to 1952, he
pioneered basketball’s
full court game, using
such strategies as the
full court press, the full
court zone (now known
as the zone press), the
open center offense
whose variants include
the “four corners,” the
rotating pivot, and the
double-pivot.
In 38
years as a head coach,
he achieved a collegiate
coaching record of 523
wins to 165 losses for a
.760 winning percentage,
including
a
239-68
record at NCC. He
was also the first black
coach in a professional
basketball league (with
the Cleveland Pipers in the American Basketball League in 1961)
and the first black coach at a predominantly white university
(Cleveland State employed him in June 1966).
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Bio:
John B. McLendon’s engaging personality made him a
popular basketball figure for more than 60 years. His extraordinary
knowledge of basketball history made him one of the game’s leading
ambassadors. But, it is his coaching resume that makes many in
the profession envious. McLendon, who learned basketball from
Dr. James Naismith as an undergraduate at Kansas, is the first
coach in history to win three consecutive national titles. McLendon
earned this honor by guiding Tennessee State to the 1957, 1958
and 1959 NAIA national championships. McLendon championed
for heightened awareness of basketball at all-black colleges, and
helped initiate an era of integrated basketball. McLendon’s wellrounded coaching background included positions at the collegiate,
AAU and professional level. He coached North Carolina College,
Hampton Institute, Tennessee State, Kentucky State and Cleveland
State along with the Cleveland Pipers (NIB-ABL) and the Denver
Rockets (ABA). Named the 1958 NAIA Coach of the Year, McLendon
coached teams that won eight CIAA titles between 1941 and 1952,
the NIBL and AAU championships in 1961, and the ABL Eastern
Division crown in 1962. McLendon, who has traveled the world
promoting basketball, wrote two books, Fast Break Basketball and
The Fast Break Game.

North Carolina College Playing Highlights:
Scored 1,745 points playing for Hall of Fame coach John
McLendon; Three-time All-Conference; Enshrined in NAIA Hall of
Fame (1962).
Pro Highlights (NBA Boston Celtics, 1957-69):
All-NBA Second Team (1965-67); Five-time NBA All-Star (1962,
1964-66, 1968); Member of 10 championship teams (1959-66 and
1968-69); Tallied 15,411 points (17.7 ppg) in his 12-year career;
Scored 2,909 points in 154 playoff games (18.9 ppg), 15th best in
history; NBA 25th
Anniversary Team
(1970); NBA 50th
Anniversary Team
(1996).
Hall of Fame Bio:
At
six-footfour, Sam Jones
was the prototype
of the tall guard
who could run the
floor, bang the
boards and had
a rangy offensive
game that gave
opponents
fits.
One of the “Jones
Boys” in Boston,
Sam
teamed
with K.C. in the
Celtics backcourt
to create havoc
in NBA arenas
around the country.
Jones favored an
unorthodox
but
highly
effective
“bank shot” that became the muscle behind his and Boston’s
10 NBA championships, including eight in a row (1958-66). As a
collegian, Jones was an offensive firehouse scoring 1,745 points
while playing for Hall of Fame coach John McLendon at all-black
North Carolina College. Jones was not a collegiate All-America
and was a relative unknown, but that didn’t sway Red Auerbach,
who drafted Sam in the first round of the 1957 draft. Jones didn’t
disappoint the Boston faithful. His 12-year NBA career included five
All-Star Game appearances, 871 regular season games and 154
playoff games. Considered one of the NBA’s most prolific graceful
shooters, Jones scored 15,411 points (17.7 ppg), plus 2,909 (18.9
ppg) more in the playoffs. Considered one of the fastest NBA
guards with superb court vision and savvy, Jones led the Celtics in
scoring three times, averaging a career-high 25.9 points in 1965.
An extremely popular player, in 1970 Jones was selected to the
NBA Silver Anniversary Team (1970), a composition of the greatest
NBA stars of the league’s first 25 years. He later would be named
one of the top 50 players in history when the NBA celebrated its
50th Anniversary in 1996.

www.NCCUEaglePride.com

81

82

www.NCCUEaglePride.com

www.NCCUEaglePride.com

83

CHANCELLOR CHARLIE NELMS
diversity and equity efforts. In September
2001, TIME magazine named IU’s
Bloomington campus the number-one
student-centered research university in
the nation. Many of the programs cited
by TIME were under Nelms’ oversight
and direction.
A native of Crawfordsville, Arkansas,
Nelms majored in agronomy and
chemistry at the University of Arkansas
at Pine Bluff, graduating in 1968. He
later earned a master’s degree in higher
education and student affairs (1971) and
a doctoral degree in higher education
administration (1977) from Indiana
University. Early in his career, he rose
through the faculty and administrative
ranks as associate dean for Student
Development at Earlham College in
Indiana (1973-1977), associate director
of the Center for Human
Development and Education
Services at the UAPB (19771978), associate dean for
Academic Affairs at Indiana
University Northwest (19781984) and vice president for
Student Services at Sinclair
Community College in Ohio
(1984- 1987).
In 1987, Nelms began
a seven-year tenure
as chancellor of Indiana
University East, a commuter
campus serving east-central
Indiana. During his tenure
there, the campus was the
fastest-growing college
in the State of Indiana. In
1994, Nelms was named
chancellor of the University
of Michigan at Flint (UMF),
an urban campus that
enrolls over 6,500 students
and offers a full spectrum of
undergraduate and master’s
degree programs. Before
being recruited to Indiana
University in 1998, he
resolved a significant campus
budget deficit, reversed a
four-year enrollment decline,
and secured more than $75
million in private gifts to
UMF.
NCCU Chancellor Charlie Nelms (right) is presented with a
A former American
ceremonial key to his new office by Atty. Cressie H. Thigpen, Jr.
Council on Education Fellow
(Photo by Robert Lawson)

Chancellor Charlie Nelms assumed
his duties as Chancellor of North
Carolina Central University August 1,
2007.
Prior to joining the NCCU family,
Nelms served as vice president for
Institutional Development and Student
Affairs at Indiana University, which
enrolls approximately 100,000 students
on eight campuses. In his role as
IU’s vice president for Institutional
Development and Student Affairs, Nelms
was responsible for a combination of
duties on the Bloomington campus and
systemwide that spanned university
planning, institutional research and
effectiveness, enrollment management,
student affairs, academic support
services, K-12 outreach initiatives,
student retention, honors programs, and

84

www.NCCUEaglePride.com

DR. CHARLIE NELMS
NCCU Chancellor
and Ford Fellow, Nelms holds honorary
degrees from Earlham College and the
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
Over the course of his career, he has
received numerous awards for his
contributions to education and service to
students, including the Benjamin Hooks
Award for Meritorious Achievement from
the Gary (IN) branch of the NAACP,
the Distinguished Alumni Service
Award from Indiana University, the
Distinguished Alumni Award from the
IU School of Education, the President’s
Medal from the University of Michigan,
and the State of Indiana’s Sagamore of
the Wabash—the highest civilian award
bestowed by the governor.
Nelms is married to Jeanetta
Sherrod Nelms. They have one son,
Rashad, a graduate of the University
of Michigan Law School who serves as
a policy officer with the United Nations
World Food Programme.
Presidents and Chancellors
1910-1947
1948-1962
1963-1965
1966-1982
1983-1985
1986-1991
1992-1993
1993-2001
2001-2007
2007-

UNIVERSITY PROFILE
History
In 1910, Dr. James E. Shepard envisioned
and founded a school that prepared African
American adults for leadership roles in
our nation’s communities. Founded as
the National Religious Training School
and Chautauqua, North Carolina Central
University (NCCU) became the nation’s first
state-supported historically black liberal arts
college. In 1923, the National Training School
became the state-supported Durham State
Normal School, devoted to “the training of
teachers for the Colored Public Schools of
North Carolina.”
Two years later, Dr. Shepard was able
to persuade the General Assembly to take
a revolutionary step, making the institution
a liberal arts college and naming it North
Carolina College for Negroes in 1925. The
School of Law was established in 1940 and
the School of Library Science in 1941. By
the time of Dr. Shepard’s death on October
6, 1947, the institution that had become
North Carolina College at Durham was
fully-accredited, highly respected and had
become the alma mater of a growing list of
distinguished alumni.
Today, under the leadership of Chancellor
Charlie Nelms, NCCU is a comprehensive
university offering more than 100 bachelor’s
degrees in various disciplines, 40 master’s
degree programs and three professional
degrees in law. The university reaches out to
all racial and ethnic groups, and has a diverse
student population of more than 8,000.
New Initiatives
NCCU is on the cutting edge with its
Biomanufacturing Research Institute and
Technology Enterprise known as BRITE. The
institute offers new bachelor’s and master’s

degrees in pharmaceutical science.
These programs provide students
with core scientific competencies
in biology or chemistry as well
as hands-on laboratory practice.
In addition, there are seminar
courses in drug development
operations, FDA regulations,
quality assurance and control,
and intellectual property and
patent law. NCCU’s BRITE is an
important part of the statewide
initiative to make North Carolina
a premiere provider of skilled
workers for the biotechnology
industry.
The School of Law has won
kudos for providing top-notch
legal education. According to
Vault, Inc., a publishing firm that
researches and collects data
on diverse professions, the law
school has not received the
acknowledgment it is due. Vault surveyed
512 recruiters who identified 25 “underrated”
schools, and the NCCU School of Law was
ranked at number 14.
NCCU and the African American Jazz
Caucus are partnering to form the NCCU/
AAJC Jazz Research Institute (NAJRI) in
an effort to preserve the integrity of jazz as
an African American art form. One of the
functions of the Institute will be to address
the critical artistic and economic situation
of jazz in the African American community
as well as develop other initiatives such as
a North Carolina Hall of Fame dedicated
to highlighting the work of jazz artists from
North Carolina.
In an effort to bring more study abroad
options to students, NCCU has been
accepted as a member of the International
Student Exchange Program (ISEP), a
nonprofit membership organization that
provides affordable and diverse study abroad
and exchange opportunities to students
around the world. NCCU is only one of four
historically black college or university in the
ISEP network. ISEP membership makes
it possible for NCCU students to study
abroad at over 135 different universities in
39 countries.
NCCU is the first historically black
institution in the nation to have an athletic
training education program accredited by
the Commission on Accreditation of Allied
Health Education Programs.
Built upon the motto of Truth and
Service, NCCU is a university committed
to preparing and equipping students with
the knowledge and skills to compete in the
global marketplace.
www.NCCUEaglePride.com

NCCU Highlights
• NCCU was the fastest growing institution
in the University of North Carolina
System. At 5.5 percent for fall 2006,
NCCU surpassed the UNC System’s
average rate of growth of 3.1 percent.
• Black Enterprise magazine named
NCCU one of the Top 50 Colleges for
African Americans in the nation in its
September 2006 edition. NCCU was
ranked No. 30.
• The Golden LEAF Foundation awarded
$2.3 million to the Biomanufacturing
Research Institute and Technology
Enterprise.
• In 2006, NCCU’s School of Law students
passed the State Bar Examination at a
rate of 86 percent; the highest of any
other historically black school in the
country.
• NCCU received accreditation of its
bachelor’s and master’s programs
in business administration from the
Assembly of American Colleges and
Schools of Business International.
• NCCU received a $150,000 grant from
the Darden Restaurants Foundation to
establish a Culinary Teaching Laboratory
at the university to support its Hospitality
and Tourism Program.
• An endowment in the amount of $100,000
was awarded for the Christopher S.
Meldrum Chemistry Scholarship Fund
to establish a scholarship for chemistry
majors.
• NCCU led in recruiting National
Achievement Scholars. NCCU was
No. 3 in the state and tied for third place
among historically black colleges and
universities across the nation.

85

ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT
North Carolina Central
University is competing in its second
year of reclassification as an NCAA
Division I institution (Football
Championship Subdivision), and
the Eagles will be playing as an
independent during the 2009-10
athletics campaign.
Fourteen men’s and women’s
sports teams participate in National
Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) competition at the Division
I-FCS level. Men’s intercollegiate
teams include football, basketball,
baseball, indoor and outdoor track &
field, tennis, golf and cross country.
Women’s intercollegiate teams
include basketball, volleyball,
indoor and outdoor track & field,
tennis, softball, bowling and cross
country.
NCCU’s athletic programs
have enjoyed regional and national
recognition for years, headlined
by the 1989 NCAA Division
II Men’s Basketball National
Championship.
NCCU’s commitment to
a balanced athletic program,
providing equitable resources to all
of its sports teams, is abundantly

apparent. In five of the last eight
years in the Central Intercollegiate
Athletic Association (CIAA), NCCU
claimed the Loretta Taylor AllSports Trophy, recognizing the top
all-around women’s program in the
conference.
In 2007-08, NCCU’s first season
of Division I (FCS) competition, the
women’s volleyball team kicked off
the Division I era with a dramatic,
come-from-behind win over N.C.
State, then cruised to 21 victories,
all against Division I opponents.
The football team finished its first
Division I season with a 6-4 record,
the Eagles fourth straight winning
season. The men’s and women’s
cross country teams each won
four of their seven events. The
men’s basketball team played one
of the toughest schedules in the
country, while traveling more than
22,000 miles and playing in 13
different states. The squad earned
a road victory over the eventual
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
(MEAC) champions and capped
the season with a win over rival
Winston-Salem State University at
the MEAC Tournament. Finally, the
track and field program won
two events at the prestigious
Penn Relays and qualified
two student-athletes for the
USA Indoor Track and Field
Championships in Boston.
In 2006-07, NCCU’s final
season in the NCAA Division
II, the Eagles placed 24th in
the final standings of the U.S.
Sports Academy Directors’
Cup, the prestigious award
presented annually to the best
overall collegiate athletics
programs in the country.
In 2006-07, NCCU
won four CIAA team
championships and
participated in nine NCAA
Division II Championship
events.

NCCU Wins Four CIAA Titles in 2006-07

2007 CIAA Women’s Basketball Champions

2006 CIAA Women's Cross Country Champions

2006 CIAA Women's Volleyball Champions

Sports Offered by NCCU Athletics

NCCU’s Shari Matthews was selected
as the 2006 NCAA Division II Women's
Volleyball National Player of the Year.

Several former student-athletes and coaches
are nationally and internationally known. Heading
the charge of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games
was Dr. LeRoy T. Walker, President of the U.S.
Olympic Committee, who lifted the Eagle track
& field program to international prominence
during his unprecedented tenure as head coach
at NCCU. Under Walker’s reign, the Eagles
produced 30 national titles, 77 All-Americans, and
eight Olympic medalists. Legendary basketball
practitioner, John B. McLendon, a member of the
National Basketball Hall of Fame, established a
remarkable record of 239-68 (.779) as an Eagle
head coach from 1940 to 1952. A student of Dr.

The 1989 men’s basketball team won the NCAA Division II National Championship
by defeating Southeast Missouri State 73-46 in the title game on March 25, 1989.
The Eagles also captured an NCAA Division II Regional Championship in 1993.

Legendary track & field coach Dr. LeRoy T. Walker, who served as President of
the U.S. Olympic Committee during the 1996 Atlanta Games, led the Eagles to
30 national titles, 77 All-America citations, and eight Olympic medals.

James Naismith, the inventor of the game of basketball, McLendon is credited with
the development of the zone press, fast break and four corners offense. Boston
Celtics great Sam Jones, a student-athlete under McLendon and a fellow Hall-ofFamer, became the first black player to be drafted in the first round after scoring a
record 1,745 points during his stellar NCCU career. Internationally-renowned artist,
Ernie Barnes - best-known for his famous paintings seen on the 1970s sitcom “Good
Times” - played football for the NCCU prior to a professional gridiron career with the
Baltimore Colts, San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos.
The LeRoy T. Walker Physical Education Complex houses a multi-purpose
gymnasium, Olympic-sized swimming and diving pool, athletic training facilities,
strength and fitness center, and much more. O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium hosts
NCCU football action for a capacity crowd of 10,000 dedicated Eagle fans. In
mid-November, McLendon-McDougald Gym lights-up with men’s and women’s
basketball excitement.
www.NCCUEaglePride.com

87

ATHLETICS DIRECTOR

Ingrid Wicker-McCree
Director of Athletics

Ingrid
Wicker-McCree,
Ed.D. was appointed as the
Director of Athletics at North
Carolina Central University on
April 23, 2008, after holding the
interim position for five months.
She officially began her new
leadership role on May 1, 2008.
Wicker-McCree,who joined
the rank of only a handful of
women athletic directors in
the UNC system, previously
served as NCCU’s associate
athletics director for internal affairs. She has served in a
variety of leadership positions in both conference and national
level organizations, most notably as president of the Central
Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Executive Board
from 2004-06, becoming only the second woman to ever hold
that position in the league’s history. In addition, she served
as a member of the NCAA’s Division II Legislation Committee
from 2003-07.
In recognition of her work, Wicker-McCree received
the CIAA Leadership Award for Service as president of the
Executive Board and was named the CIAA Senior Woman
Administrator of the Year in the spring of 2006.
Now in her 15th year at NCCU, Wicker-McCree has been
one of the driving forces behind NCCU’s reclassification to
NCAA Division I. Since 1998, she has overseen the internal
operations of the Athletics Department, including all compliance
and eligibility programs.
Her impact on this university's athletic department has
been immense. It has been her strong leadership skills that
have enabled NCCU to make the trek to Division I a successful
one thus far. With her steadfast and forward thinking she has
increased the number of staff members two-fold while merging
and creating a brand-new fund raising arm for the Athletic
department, The Eagle Club. Not to mention the nearly one
million dollars worth of upgrades to O'Kelly Riddick Stadium
with the brand-new Mondoturf playing surface and the newlyinstalled videoscoreboard called, "Eaglevision". Those are
just a few of the changes and additions that she has set in
motion during her time, and those will certainly go a long way
into planting the seeds of her legacy.
Wicker-McCree began her career at NCCU as the head
coach for women’s volleyball and softball. She became the
first coach in NCCU history to win conference championships
in multiple sports, capturing the school’s first-ever CIAA titles
in softball (1998) and volleyball (1999, 2004, 2005). A threetime CIAA Volleyball Coach of the Year (1999, 2002, 2005)
and former member of the NCAA Division II National Volleyball
Committee, Wicker-McCree earned 239 match victories in 12
seasons as head volleyball coach at NCCU. She was also
inducted into the NCCU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004 as head
coach of the 1998 softball team.
A native of Durham and graduate of C.E. Jordan High
School, Wicker-McCree played on two North Carolina high
school state volleyball championship teams, while also lettering
in basketball and track and field. She continued her volleyball
playing career as a student-athlete at George Washington
University.
Wicker-McCree earned her undergraduate degree in
criminal justice from George Washington University in 1989,
and a master’s degree in recreation resources administration

88

from North Carolina
State University in
December
1991.
She also completed
doctoral studies in
higher
education
administration
at
North
Carolina
State University in
June 2008.
She began her
coaching career as
a graduate assistant
coach
for
the
women’s volleyball
program at N.C.
State
(1989-90).
She then spent two
seasons (1992-93)
as head volleyball
coach and student- Ingrid Wicker-McCree accepts the
athlete academic 2007 Loretta Taylor All-Sports Trophy,
counselor at North recognizing the top all-around women's
Carolina A&T State program in the conference, from Jeffrey
University before McLeod of the CIAA.
returning to her
hometown to begin
her NCCU tenure in August 1994.
Wicker-McCree has been involved as a player and coach
in the USA Volleyball Carolina Region. She also served as
director of three USAV Junior Olympic Teams (ages 18, 16, 14
and under) and director of the Y.M.C.A. Middle School Girls’
Volleyball Camp (ages 10-14).
Wicker-McCree and her husband, Geno McCree, a threesport collegiate student-athlete and 1991 graduate of Elon
University, are the proud parents of Alexia (11), Quinton (9)
and Sydney (5).

www.NCCUEaglePride.com

THE NEW EAGLE CLUB
The New Eagle Club
If you haven’t heard, there’s a new booster club at

If you’re a previous booster club member, your past

North Carolina Central University. It’s the all-new

giving history will be recognized when you continue

Eagle Club. Yes, more than a half-dozen of our

on with the new Eagle Club. For everyone who

athletic booster clubs, including the original long-

contributes, this is your chance to become a charter

standing Eagle Club, have joined forces to create a

member of the new Eagle Club. As a member, you’ll

superpower club that provides scholarship support

be part of the only fundraising organization for the

for all NCCU student-athletes. It’s an important step

athletic department sanctioned by the university.

forward as we move up to Division I.
Next to student-athletes, our supporters are the most
That’s right, all NCCU teams are going Division I.

important assets to our athletic program. With your

This is big time. As one unified booster club, we’ll be

help, we’ll be able to offer more scholarships to the

a more structured organization that combines the

most talented student-athletes, as well as provide

efforts of our most dedicated supporters. Likewise, it

them with world-class facilities.

strengthens our ability to build championship teams
as we advance to a more challenging level of play.

For more details about the Eagle Club, call (919)
530-7057 or visit www.NCCUEaglePride.com.

www.NCCUEaglePride.com

89

ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT STAFF

Jamaul Alexander

Carolyn Arrington

Anthony Bennett

Dr. Les Brinson

Assistant A.D. for
Business/Finance

Director of
Student-Athlete Services

Faculty Athletic Council Chairman

Louise Brothers

Reco Chavis

Brigitte Council

Nathan Crockett

Business & Finance
Assistant

Facilities/Event
Coordinator

ATC, LAT/
Asst. Athletic Trainer

MS, ATC, LAT/
Asst. Athletic Trainer

Accountant

Athletic
Staff
Ariel Germain
Graduate Assistant
Sports Information

Tyrone Irby

Assistant A.D. for
Development

Marlynn Jones

Strength & Conditioning
Assistant Coach

Assistant A.D. for
Compliance

Reah Nicholson

Adrian Powell

Assistant Sports
Information Director

90

Veronica Hemmingway

Equipment Manager

Chris Hooks
Asst. Sports Information Director/
Broadcast Media

Barry Marrow
Facilities/Turf
Management

Darrell Sanders

Strength & Conditioning
Assistant Coach

www.NCCUEaglePride.com

Nicole Mitchell

Sports Information/
Marketing Assistant

Brenda Scarborough
Executive Assistant to the
Athletics Director

ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT STAFF

Kyle Serba

Associate A.D. for
Media Relations

Darkina Ward

MS, ATC, LAT/
Asst. Athletic Trainer

George Smith

Associate A.D. for
External Affairs/S&C

Ingrid Wicker-McCree

Etienne Thomas

Associate A.D. for
Internal Operations/SWA

Brenda Williams

Sean Thomas

MS, ATC, LAT/
Head Athletic Trainer

Danny Worthy

Director of Athletics

Administrative Assistant

Assistant A.D. for
Corporate Relations

Mike Charlton

Georgette Crawford-Crooks

Curtis Lawson

Softball

Volleyball

Men’s Tennis/
Director of Tennis

Paul Perry

Head
Coaches

Michael Lawson

LeVelle Moton

David Nass

Track & Field/Cross Country

Men’s Basketball

Women’s Tennis

Mose Rison
Football

Joli Robinson

Karen Sanford

Women’s Basketball

Women’s Bowling

www.NCCUEaglePride.com

Golf

Dr. Henry White
Baseball

91

NCAA REGULATIONS

HELP THE EAGLES
WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS!

COMPLIANCE STAFF

ETIENNE THOMAS

MARLYNN JONES

Associate A.D. for
Internal Operations/SWA
(919) 530-7053

Assistant Director of
Athletics for Compliance
(919) 530-6725

“Winning” for the Eagles is more than
outscoring the opponent, it is excelling
in the classroom, actively participating in community service projects and
adhering to NCAA rules regarding
recruitment and admission of studentathletes.
How can you help the Eagles win?

Follow the NCAA rules
The NCAA defines an institution
as the University, its employees, its

92

student-athletes, and its representatives of athletics interests, including
parents alumnus/and fans. Therefore
beware of the following:
NCAA BYLAW 13.1.2.1
In Division I, representatives of an
institution’s athletics interests are
prohibited from making in-person,
on- or off-campus recruiting contacts,
including written and/or telephonic
communications with a prospect or the
prospect’s relatives or legal guardians.

www.NCCUEaglePride.com

A prospect is defined as any student who has started classes for the
ninth grade, whether the student
participates in athletics is not relevant
to the classification as a prospect and
neither is gender.
NCAA BYLAW 16.02.3
An extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or a representative of the institution’s athletics interests to provide a
student-athlete or the student-athlete’s
relative or friend a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation.
Unless you are willing to give a
benefit to all 8,000 students at NCCU,
don’t give it to a student-athlete or a
prospect.

MID-EASTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE HISTORY
MID-EASTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE HISTORY
sified as a Division I conference by the
National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA). Prior to that year the league operated as a Division II conference. The following month the MEAC received an automatic
qualification to the NCAA Division I Men's
Basketball Championship.
Currently, the league has automatic
qualifying bids for NCAA postseason play
in baseball (since 1994), men's basketball
(since 1981), women's basketball (since
1982), football (since 1996), softball (since
1995), men and women's tennis (since
1998), and volleyball (since 1994).

NCCU Chancellor Nelms (Left) and MEAC Commissioner Dennis Thomas (right), flap their wings
to signify that the Eagles are flying home (Photos by Robert Lawson)

History:
In 1969, a bold ad hoc group of innovators long associated with intercollegiate athletics met in Durham, N.C., to discuss the
feasibility of organizing a new conference.
Dissected from these discussions, a steering and planning committee was formed to
fully investigate the idea, present a detailed
report with recommendations to interested
collegiate institutions, and then construct a
workshop to outline proposals.
After adopting a program, seven institutions (Delaware State College, Howard University, University of Maryland
Eastern Shore, Morgan State University,
North Carolina A&T State University,
North Carolina Central University and
South Carolina State College) agreed to
become the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Its major objective was to establish,
organize and supervise an intercollegiate
athletic program among a compact group
of educational institutions of high academic
standards and with a sound philosophy of
co-curricular activities. The league agreed
to seek Division I status for its sports.
The conference was confirmed in 1970,
kicking off its first season of competition in
football in 1971.
In 1978, a milestone was reached when
the MEAC selected Kenneth A. Free to be
its first full-time commissioner. He had been
preceded by three interim (part-time) commissioners: Dr. Leroy Walker (1971-74);
who later had the distinction of serving as
the President of the United States Olympic

Committee, the late Earl Mason (1974-75)
and the late Dr. James Young (1975-78).
Kenneth A. Free served the conference
for 18 years before stepping down in May
of 1996. In July of 1996, Charles S. Harris was named commissioner and served
in the capacity until April 2002. Longtime
MEAC administrator Brenda H. McCoy
served two stints as Interim Commissioner,
one in 1996 (May-June) and again in 2002
(April-August). On September 1, 2002, Dr.
Dennis E. Thomas was named the commissioner and has served in the position for
seven years.
The leagues' first expansion occurred in
October 1979 when Bethune-Cookman College and Florida A&M University were voted
into the MEAC as new members. Original
members Morgan State, North Carolina
Central and Maryland Eastern Shore withdrew from the conference at the end of
the 1979-80 fiscal year. Maryland Eastern
Shore was readmitted in 1981 and Morgan
State returned in 1984. Florida A&M opted
to resign in 1984 but rejoined the conference in 1986. Coppin State College was
granted admittance in 1985, becoming the
ninth member institution.

The MEAC initiated cross country in
1980 and North Carolina A&T earned the
inaugural men's crown. The first women's
cross country championship took place a
year later with Howard winning the first of
its seven titles. Indoor Track and Field was
also added in 1981 with South Carolina
State capturing the men's title and Howard
winning the women's crown.
Tennis and golf returned as MEAC governed sports in 1981, after a five-year hiatus. South Carolina State won all seven of
the league's golf championships from 19721983 before the sport was discontinued after the 1983 championship.
Morgan State dominated the conference
in wrestling winning 13 of 24 conference
championships during the sports tenure
from 1972 through 1995.
Baseball, which began in 1972, was
discontinued following the 1977 season.
It was brought back as a MEAC governed
sport along with women's volleyball in 1983.
Women's softball became a MEAC sanctioned sport in 1992.
Bowling was officially sanctioned as a
MEAC governed sport in 1999. Before that
season, the MEAC was the first conference
to secure NCAA sanctioning for women's
bowling by adopting the club sport prior to
the 1996-97 school year.

The MEAC expanded again in the 1990's
with the inclusion of Hampton University
(1995) and Norfolk State University (1997).
The final expansion occurred in 2007, with
the addition of Winston-Salem State University.
On June 8, 1980, the MEAC was claswww.NCCUEaglePride.com

93

94

www.NCCUEaglePride.com

MEDIA INFORMATION
Information Office at (919) 530-7054.
Please take a moment to review the
following policies and services that are
intended to assist you in your coverage of NCCU Basketball this season.

On The Radio
The NCCU Sports Network enters its
second year of broadcasting Eagle
Athletics on the radio and on the internet. The NCCU Sports Network will
broadcast all of the Men's Basketball
games. NCCU’s games will be aired
on the the radio and Internet. You can
tune into each and every contest on
WRJD "Rejoice" 1410 AM, and online
at www.NCCUEaglePride.com. Chris
Hooks will again handle the play-byplay duties this year. Hooks enters his
second year as Play-by-Play Voice for
the NCCU Sports Network. Sedrick
Dickens, Color Analyst, also joins
Chris for his second year. Associate
Athletics Director for Media Relations,
Kyle Serba, will fill-in as color analyst
on various broadcasts.

Chris Hooks handles the play-by-play for
both men's and women's basketball.

Media Guidelines
The 2009 North Carolina Central
Men's Basketball Media Guide is designed to assist members of the media
in their coverage of Eagle Basketball. Additional information, including
releases and photographs may be obtained by contacting the NCCU Sports

Media Credentials
NCCU’s Assistant Sports Information Director, Chris Hooks, will handle
working press and photographer credentials for the Eagles’ home games.
Please make your requests for media
credentials in writing at least one day
in advance by mail, fax or e-mail.
Passes can be picked up at the front
entrance before the match or in the
Sports Information Office.
Media Parking
There is no reserved press parking.
Parking spaces around the gym are
reserved for gameday staff. Parking
lots are available around the building
for media members.
Weekly Interview Policy
Interviews involving athletic coaches,
staff and student-athletes must be arranged through the Sports Information
Office. The Sports Information Office
will arrange interviews with all players in accordance with the best time
available for the reporter and player.
Please contact Assistant Sports Information Director Chris Hooks at least
one day in advance to schedule an
interview.
Postgame Interviews
NCCU’s postgame interviews will be
held outside of the locker rooms immediately following a 10-minute cool
down period. We ask that you supply
the names of the
student-athletes
you wish to
interview immediately following the
contest.

ment. Photographers are reminded to
be courteous of the fans in the areas
surrounding the floor, and to not obstruct fans’ view of the match in play.
All photographers must have prior
permission to shoot the contest.
Media Services
NCCU’s press row is located along the
side of the court. Seating is limited.
We will try our best to accommodate
everyone. Press row is equipped with
power outlets, if needed. There are
phone lines available if needed, but
you must let the Sports Information
Office know ahead of time. It will be on
a first-come first-serve basis. Wireless
Internet is also available. A phone line
is available for both home and visiting
radios. Pregame notes, programs and
media guides will be provided before
each game. A complete box score will
be distributed shortly after the contest.
Visiting Radio
Visiting radio personnel desiring
to broadcast athletic events from
McDougald-McLendon Gym should
contact the Sports Information Office

Photography
Areas
No photographers
are allowed inside
the locker room or
in huddles without
prior arrangewww.NCCUEaglePride.com